TLDR: I find myself inspired and grateful today. The inspiration comes from various areas of my ministry. The Gratitude is related to our Strong Roots, Building the Future Campaign. Read on for more.
Today is Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, and I find myself inspired and grateful. The inspiration comes from a number of sources which include the Seminary of the Southwest (SSW), the Dominican Republic Mission team, the Diocesan Cursillo 2025 planning committee, and our Capital Campaign team. SSW just graduated a large class of Divinity and Mental Health students, and I was invited to several functions to celebrate their graduation. I am currently a trustee of the seminary, which brings me to campus several times a year for meetings and functions. The 2025 commencement address this year was given by Bryan Stevenson, a noted lawyer, author, and founder (and executive Director) of the Equal Justice Initiative. His book, Just Mercy is one of the best books I have read over the last several years. This is what the seminary published in his biography in the commencement bulletin, “Mr. Stevenson’s work has won him numerous awards including the prestigious MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Prize; the ABA Medal, the American Bar Association’s highest honor; the National Medal of Liberty from the American Civil Liberties Union after he was nominated by United States Supreme Court Justice John Stevens; the Public Interest Lawyer of the Year by the National Association of Public Interest Lawyers; and the Olaf Palme Prize in Stockholm, Sweden for international human rights.”
As if this was not enough, the seminary’s guest speaker for their June 1, Monday Connection, was the Honorable Lora J. Livingston, a renowned Austin judge who has received numerous awards for her jurisprudence. I am very proud of the work the new dean, Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, has done over the last year, and I find myself quite hopeful for the future of theological education in our Diocese and Church. Saint Dunstan’s became a one-percenter church in 2023, which means that we allocate one percent of our budget to theological education every year. This is one of the marks of a healthy church, namely, we equip Christians for ministry, both lay and ordained, and we support their theological and spiritual formation. Please continue to keep the seminary in your prayers and let me know if there are ways you can partner with SSW.
This coming June 7th, Fr. Steve and I will go to La Romana, Dominican Republic for our 2025 medical mission. Working on a devotional for this team has helped me to think about another mark of a healthy church, which is our desire to share our faith with people around the world. We are a missional church, and we support missional work in various ways. Praying, researching, writing, and sharing this devotional has kept me inspired and energized these last two weeks. Likewise, preparing for our Diocesan Cursillo from September 18-21, 2025, at Camp Allen, has reconnected me with friends with whom I served in 2023, and has allowed me the opportunity to re-engage with the Cursillo curricula. I strongly recommend this retreat for anyone who has not attended. Both Jerry Schattle and I will be on staff and would love to see you there. If you want to learn more about Cursillo, please read a blog I wrote in 2023, HERE.
Our Strong Roots, Building the Future team has kept me inspired for several months. I loved the testimonies that Laura Gunn and John Foudy shared with us in church this last month. Both of these beloved members are people of deep and abiding faith, and we are blessed to have them among us. Richard Rogers, our Horizon’s Consultant, also shared his testimony of faith with several groups during training and his deep faith was powerfully moving to many of us. John and Laura have assembled a remarkable team. Working closely with them, and witnessing their faith and dedication, has been one of my blessings in 2025. Thank you all for your hard work and love for the Lord and for Saint Dunstan’s.
Finally, I find myself incredibly grateful today. As of the writing of this blog we have received 66 pledges towards our Strong Roots, Building the Future campaign for a total of $2,007,862. What this means is that we have received pledges that account for 66% of our $3 million goal. Soon, we will be able to relocate the entrance of Saint Dunstan’s to the traffic light on Stuebner Airline Road, we will build a commercial kitchen, we will restore our sanctuary, and we will create community gardens in the area where our old playground sets are located. This last goal is part of our desire to have a family-friendly campus, which is already partly completed through our new playgrounds on both sides of the Bentley Education Building.
Thank you for a great beginning! I am amazed at your generosity and love. I continue to pray that those who have not yet pledged will be inspired by these early results and commit to this worthy campaign. Our future looks very bright and together we will create a welcoming campus that will attract many generations of parishioners.
May our Lord continue to bless you.
Fr. Roman+
