Future priest has roots in Duval County

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Today I want to take a point of personal privilege and write about a family member of whom we are all rightfully proud. Just to keep myself honest, this has to do with history in the making and it certainly has a tie to Duval County.

Our nephew Eric Chapa is the grandson of Mrs. Lupe Chapa, who many of you know simply as “Miss Chapa” who had a long and illustrious career as a teacher in Duval County schools. His father is G.R. Chapa of San Diego and his mother is Priscilla Ibanez Chapa (my wife’s sister) of Alice.

He is a seminarian for the Diocese of Corpus Christi at the North American College in Rome. Currently, he is doing his pastoral year at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Corpus Christi. A seminarian’s pastoral year gives him the opportunity to experience life in a parish before he completes his studies and is ordained a priest.

One of the experiences is that of doing a reflection on the Sunday readings so that he can gain experience as a future homilist. Eric gave his reflection at all Sunday Masses this past weekend. The audio above is of his reflection. The photo of Eric with Pope Benedict was taken a couple of years ago.

At the conclusion of his pastoral year Eric will likely be ordained a transitional deacon and a year after that as a priest.

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