October 26, 2018: St. Vincent de Paul honors long-time member * RELIGION * Community Pride * Del Rio News-Herald

Fortino Guzman, Jr. was recognized for his 58 years of service in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) with a Bilingual Mass in his honor on September 30 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, luncheon followed at Our Lady of Guadalupe Gym.

Mass Celebrant and Homilist was Father Martin Alonso Bustos González, Missionary of the Nativity of Mary (M.N.M.) Pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Deacon Juan Padilla assisted and the Holy Spirit Choir provided musical accompaniment.

Lectors were: First Reading in Spanish by Fortino Guzman, Jr., Responsorial Psalm in English by Mary Cordova and Second Reading in English by Selina Randez.

After the homily Father Martin stated that a reception was planned after Mass for all the Vincentians from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church during which Fortino Guzman, Jr. would also be honored at the recognition ceremony, but he wanted those in attendance at Mass to see the faithful witness of service to the Church as exemplified by the continued service and dedication to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) as a lifelong active member providing spiritual and material relief to his community.

While reading from the list of Mr. Guzman’s accomplishments and activities, Father Martin noted with affectionate humor that Mr. Guzman had specifically noted that he had married his High School “sweetheart”, which brought smiles and cordial laughter from the congregation.

Father Martin presented Mr. Guzman with a plaque recognizing his 58 years of service.

Frank Ball, III, whose father Frank Ball, Jr. had been one of the original six founding members of the SVdP at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church relayed his personal experience when Mr. Guzman who worked for 31 years at the Central Power and Light Company would graciously take into consideration when people were late with their payments. Father Martin made the observation that Mr. Guzman was always “helping people by being a light to those who are in darkness”.

Since childhood Mr. Guzman has been involved in various ministries of the Church.

In 1944 he was enrolled in the Fourth Grade at the newly constructed Our Lady of Guadalupe School and in 1945 under the guidance of Sister Margaret Mary who taught him Latin for the Mass he started serving as an altar boy and he still has the holy card he received entitled “A Prayer for an Altar Boy”. 

In 1948 he graduated from the Eighth Grade at Our Lady of Guadalupe School.

From 1950 – 1956 and 1959 – 1974 he served as a CCD teacher. Mr. Guzman recalled several students who have appreciatively acknowledged him for teaching them during religion class.

On September 27, 1959, the first St. Vincent de Paul conference in Del Rio was established at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and currently the three parishes in the city have a SVdP conference; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church along with Sacred Heart Church and St. Joseph Church.

  

In May 4, 1960, Mr. Guzman joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and was part of the Jail Ministry group through 2003. The Prison Chaplain contacts the SVdP for financial assistance when the prisoners have served their time; this includes providing money for hotel, food and ticket to travel back home.

In 1961, together with the late Conrado Galindo, Jr., they became the first Cursillistas from Del Rio.

In January 1965, Mr. Guzman was one of the founding members for the first group of Lectors at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church; he continues to serve as a Lector at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church during the 7:00 a.m. Sunday Mass in Spanish and during the weekdays at the 6:30 a.m. daily Mass in Spanish at St. Joseph Church where he has served for 11 years.

In June 6, 1977, along with the late Jimmy Gonzalez, they became the first two parishioners from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church appointed by Pope Paul VI as Knights of St. Gregory the Great.

At the reception Griselda Hurley was the Emcee and she is the Incoming Secretary of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

Besides Mr. Guzman’s work in lay ministry in the parish his biography includes: He was born in August 21, 1934 as the youngest of four children to Ninfa de Leon and Fortino Guzman, Sr.                                       

In May 1952, he graduated from San Felipe High School, and has remained proud of his Alma Mater.

From 1957 – 1959 he served in the United States Army.

In January 28, 1962, he married Diamantina Flores and they have two children: their daughter - Ana Isela Cothren, who lives in San Antonio with her husband Chris, and son Ethan; and their son – Javier Miguel Guzman who lives in Del Rio.

From 1983 – 1995, he was a member of the Val Verde County Child Welfare Board.

From 1985 – 2003, he was a member of the Brackettville Rotary Club.

Mr. Ball, who is the District President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, introduced Margaret Tracy and Council President Barbara Ward, both from the Archdiocese of San Antonio SVdP. They brought greetings from the National Society of St. Vincent de Paul and presented Mr. Guzman with a Jubilarian Certificate, which honors those with 50 years or more of service and he was one with the most years of service; he was also presented with an Emblem and a Jubilarian cross which was blessed by Father Martin.

Antonio Rodriguez, Incoming President of SVdP at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, recognized past Vincentians with presentation of anniversary pins: Past President, the late Raul Hernandez, was represented by his sister Irma and her husband Terry Proctor; Melchor Galindo, for 25 years of devoted service, was represented by Griselda Hurley; Jose Vielma, for 25 years of devoted service, was represented by his daughter Olga and her husband Tomas Perez; and George Lomas, Outgoing President, was recognized for 19 years of devoted service.

Mr. Ball presented Father Martin with a stole with the emblem of the St. Vincent de Paul and a cross, in appreciation for being their Spiritual Advisor. 

He relayed the story that he was approached by Mr. Guzman at a fast food restaurant and informed that the SVdP had only four members and since Mr. Ball’s father had been one of the founding members, if he would consider becoming the fifth member needed to keep the SVdP going at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Mr. Ball told him to just wait a moment while he consulted with his wife and he came back and graciously accepted the invitation. With the grace of God, the intercession of St. Vincent de Paul and the assistance of their Spiritual Advisor Father Martin the membership has grown from 5 to 16 members.

Recognized in attendance at the reception were Ben Rivera, President of SVdP at Sacred Heart Parish and Irene Garcia, President of SVdP at St. Joseph Parish.

Those who paid tribute to Mr. Guzman included: Lupita Hernandez who was thankful for his words of encouragement when her family first came to the parish; Lydia De Leon, a high school classmate who recognized his loyalty to San Felipe High School because he is among a group of classmates that meets monthly to celebrate as former graduates; William Bryant who recently began serving as a Lector said he was deeply inspired by Mr. Guzman and aspired to be like him; and George Lomas pointed out that “Tino” Guzman had played basketball at the Gym where the reception was being held and then he  read from Matthew 25: 35 -36, which he said exemplified Mr. Guzman as a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul -  “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

Closing remarks from both Father Martin and Mr. Guzman included appreciation to the community for their continued generosity and support of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and reminding everyone that on the last Sunday of each month the second collection is taken up in order for SVdP to continue meeting the spiritual and material needs of those most in need in our community.