In April, while Fr. Emil Tomaskovic, SA and members of the Mission Support staff were hosting a Benefactor Appreciation Day in San Antonio, they stopped to visit the Church of Our Lady of the Atonement. This year is the Centennial Anniversary of the Catholic Church recognizing Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Atonement, and a special visit was in order.
This particular church in San Antonio is quite unique. It was originally founded in 1983 by an Episcopalian priest who was received into the Roman Catholic Church and is part of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter created by the Vatican for former Anglican communities who are now members of the Roman Catholic Church. Members retain certain elements of their Anglican Heritage in their celebration of the Mass.
Within the Church is a beautiful chapel to Our Lady of the Atonement and at the entrance is a portrait of our Founder, Servant of God Fr. Paul Wattson, SA who was an Anglican priest before joining the Roman Catholic Church. The parish also has a vibrant grammar and high school, Our Lady of the Atonement Academy on the church grounds.
Fr Christopher Phillips is the one who converted to Catholicism and thru tremendous Prayer, Pope Paul II together with Archobishop Flores, agree on Our Lady of the Atonement foundation in San Antonio. Fr. Phillips worked quite diligently in all aspects of the church, and then in the school together with Deacon James Orr-deceased. I personally with my parents went there throught the years, and received tremendous spiritual guidance, and blessings; as well as healing from Our Lord Jesus Christ. I am forever indebted to the time Fr. Phillps and Deacon Orr spent in forming and building up the community in this church -guided and prompted by the Holy Spirit- as well as the current Our Lady of the Atonement Academy. We all are indebted to GOD forever, to have this beautiful parish, and form of prayer which has high veneration in prayer, mass and is continuing to reach out to the parishiones/lay people and needy in the community of San Antonio, TX.