Almost a week since I left el Valle, I must mention my last meals from my loved ones to send me off on a good note!
Milano’s Italian Restaurant (Weslaco) ~ with my Ph.D. study buddy Alicia
Palenque Mexican Grill (McAllen) ~ from Dr. Alex & Frank
Pancakes a la Janet (SB) ~ by mi Cuñada
¡Salud a good food to set the mood!
4:44 ~ make a wish!!! (I’ll blow my candles next week!)
Being just a hop, skip and swim away from the border means there’s access to …
Really delicious, not always healthy food!
Here are my favorites (aside from my in-laws’ good homecooking, o’course), that I’ll miss in this neck of the woods, or shall I say: foot of the Valley!
Bubble Tea (Tea Rush Café in Sharyland/Mission, TX) ~ during my West Valley Church Tour
Koko’s Mexican Cuisine (Uptown/McAllen, TX) ~ for my classmate, Dr. Alejandro Garza’s Birthday
Sweet & Tasty Bakery ~ also for Dr. G’s Bday, with this Banana Split Pie to die & the BEST pan de polvo
¡Salud!
🇺🇸Salute * Tribute🇺🇸
A week ago, I toured the San Benito Veterans War Memorial. Enjoy this beautiful dedication to our local military heroes!
🙏Pray with Praise & Thanks + for Peace✌️
After school business, I visited more beautiful Churches.
St. Joseph’s (San Benito)
Following my meeting yesterday, with a principal of the Catholic school where my Ph.D. professor served as CEO/President, I went to this Cathedral close to the border.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Brownsville)
Due to over a year worth of renovations, it will be closed until September 15, 2014.
Luckily, the gift shop was open for pasalubong!
Oblates of Mary Immaculate is my dear friend and Valley native, Bishop Mike’s religious order!
☝️God’s Blessings👏
🌞 Today’s Forecast: Heavenly Sunshine with 100% Chance of Showers of GOD’s Blessings 🌈
🌴 Upon my return to the Valley from Tita Brenda’s memorial, I went westward for more Churches that I attended when I lived here. 💒
OLSJ del Valle Basilica & Shrine (San Juan)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (McAllen)
Holy Spirit (McAllen) ~ home of this Stations of the Cross
where I received my first 🍎teacher blessing🎓
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mission)
where I 🎼sang🎤 in the 🎵choir🎶
Since my good friend’s dad, who tithed generously to their Church, is very sick, I started the St. Jude novena for them and their family. 🙏
☝️ Blessings of GOD’s Peace to all! ✌️
My beautiful Valley Church tour took me further throughout the lower RGV this past week.
After spending time working on my dissertation research at school last Saturday, I attended Vigil Mass at the nearby parish where we had my second Ph.D. Convocation.
St. Francis Xavier (La Feria)
The priest really struck a chord in me about how his Church lacked involvement in the Ministry, so I hope that he reached out to the Congregation members.
On Sunday, I swung by the grotto in Port Isabel, following my homecoming in South Padre Island.
Our Lady Star and Sea (Port Isabel)
My buddy also took me by another place of worship on the Island.
Chapel by the Sea (South Padre Island)
After work on Monday, I visited the Church where my nephew’s dad was the first altar boy.
Our Lady Queen of the Universe (San Benito)
Unfortunately, we lost a family friend that night, and I continued to pray for the repose of her soul on Tuesday.
St. Helen’s (Rio Hondo)
I’ve also taken my nephew and stepdaughter to Vacation Bible School, so I like to believe that they’re learning valuable lessons about GOD and His Word there.
R.I.P., Brenda Doria Paragas
I could almost taste it…
That’s what I’ve been telling people lately whenever I refer to my Ph.D.🎓 As long as I maintain that self-fulfilling prophecy (one of my students’ vocabulary terms) by taking those steps👣 toward it, I’ll be icing my dissertation📜 ~ yet it definitely hasn’t been a piece🍰 of cake🎂.
Fortunately, Our Lady of the Lake University has a brand new campus🏤 (to me, considering I haven’t been down here since 2013) in the Valley🌴. My professor, Dr. Duncan, was gracious enough to show me around the RGV site, plus introduce me to other faculty and students.
While I’m on job assignment, I feel blessed to have our school just a two-step👢 (as in two towns) away ~ so there’s no way I can skip a beat💖!
Scholar Mode💪
Go to Church for comfort & strength💪.
That’s what my dad👨 advised me, in particular when I was devastated that his mother/my paternal grandmother, Mama Eufemia👵, my last surviving grandparent, was dying.
Hence, I heeded his suggestion and went to Church💒, not just for Mass🙏, but also Adoration💖.
My neighborhood Church at the time was Queen of Peace👑, which I visited this morning.
It’s not all about you☝️.
When my mom👩 told me this, I felt offended at first, but she’s absolutely right. As a matter of fact, when GOD spoke to me before the Blessed Sacrament today, He reminded me of my parents’ remarks: to live for the LORD, not for myself. Peace! ✌️
GOD’s presence = The greatest gift
Since my return to the Rio Grande Valley, I’ve been visiting different Churches everyday.
Here are the first few where I’ve gone for Adoration. I haven’t taken as many photos since I’ve gone in the past, so I may also add throwbacks.
Our Lady of San Juan del Valle Basilica & Shrine (San Juan)
St. Benedict’s (San Benito)
Our Lady of Assumption (Harlingen)
St. Anthony’s (Harlingen)
Immaculate Heart of Mary (Harlingen)
The next few on the lineup:
* Queen of Peace (Harlingen)
* St. Francis Xavier (La Feria)
* Our Lady Star of the Sea (Port Isabel)
* Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Brownsville)
* Christ the King (Brownsville)
More to come where I used to attend:
* Holy Spirit (McAllen)
* Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mission)
¡Gracias a Díos! ¡Díos te bendigan!
The Elaine Dispo Journal 