God is the hub of the wheel of life, we are the spokes. The closer we come to Him the closer we also come to one another.
                                                 --Henri J.. Nouwen
 

San Antonio People of Faith Historical Museum

 
Dedicated December 31, 2017, the San Antonio People of Faith Historical Museum--an educational ministry of St. Paul Catholic Church--actively seeks to teach and preserve San Antonio’s rich faith tradition through current and future displays of artifacts and documents. The museum began by displaying donated and acquired artifacts and documents that trace the city’s faith heritage from the earliest Spanish explorations to the present. Housed in St. Paul Community Center (SPCC), the former Agudas Achim synagogue, St. Paul continues to utilize the building as a community center while at the same time housing the museum displays throughout, in hallways, meeting rooms, and particularly behind the altar in the House of Mercy (formerly the synagogue sanctuary). Our Jewish roots remain present throughout the former synagogue, especially in the sanctuary stained glass windows, each with an embedded Jewish symbol; the Star of David ceiling lights; and, the Ark of the Covenant which contains a sacred Torah scroll on long-term loan from the Jewish Federation.
 
Since its inception, the museum has also hosted three events, the first honoring Golden Treasures of ministry in which we celebrated achievements of those who helped build the faith community of the west side, and honored the memories of Emma Tenayuca and Father Carmelo Tranchese. The second was a Kelly AFB Gala to honor all those families whose employment there lifted them into the middle class and in many cases enabled them to send their children to Catholic schools and to college. The museum committee hopes that this will become an annual event. Finally, with the help of members of the Order of Alhambra, the museum committee hosted a Mass for parishioners with special needs and their families. The plan is for these Masses to become a quarterly event at St. Paul’s under the direction of a committee separate from the museum.
 
The San Antonio People of Faith Historical Museum always welcomes new members to its planning committee. Current members of this committee include: Father Charles Chaffman, Chairperson; Kathleen Muldoon, Co-Chairperson; Sister Madeline Kelly OSU; Brother Edward Loch, SM; Stella A. Ramirez; Gabe and Stella Ramirez; Maria Rosales; David White, Archivist of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas; and Richard and Carol Zepeda.
 
 
       St. Paul Community Center. 1201 Donaldson. San Antonio, TX 78228. 210-733-715