Parochial Vicars

Peace and greetings! 

 My name is Fr. Duncan Amek. I am very grateful and happy with this assignment that I am given to practice the priesthood in this beautiful and active community at St. Matthew’s parish. 
 I was born on October 10th, 1983, from a humble background and raised along Lake Victoria in Homa-Bay County-Kenya. I am the second to last born in a large family of fourteen siblings.
 I graduated with both Bachelor in Philosophy and Religious Studies and Sacred Theology from Pontifical Urbaniana University- Rome in 2006 and 2010 respectively. I then proceeded to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Administration. I successfully completed the MBA program and Human Resource Development in 2013.
 Since 2014, San Antonio has been home to me. I joined Oblate School of Theology for further pastoral and theological studies that have prepared me for ministry in the Archdiocese Diocese. I’m very grateful and proud to be one of the newest priests of the Archdiocese Diocese of San Antonio after my priestly ordination in May by our beloved Archbishop Gustavo. I believe that the Holy Spirit led me here, guided me through, and I'm confident will continue to show me the way.
 St. Matthew parish is a launching ground in helping me to put into practice the pastoral, ministerial, and theological formation I have received. Under the mentorship of Fr. Dennis and the parish staff, I will work hard to integrate my priestly life with actual parish experience and pastoral ministry.
 What I would like the parishioners to know about me is that I believe in people’s sense of faith and always attempt to invite those who are willing to be a part of the continued creation of the parish family. I believe that everyone has received something from God to enrich the parish family; therefore, I hope that the opportunities to get involved will not be wasted but many will offer their gifts to make the parish a welcoming and authentic community of growth in faith, hope and love of God and one another.
 I enjoy playing soccer, swimming and basketball. I like beef fajitas, tortillas and spicy food. I remain grateful for this opportunity and look forward to sharing with you my faith. 

Yours in our Lord,     
Fr. Duncan Amek

  We are pleased to welcome Father Paul Melgarejo to our parish as our newest Parochial Vicar. Father. Paul was ordained at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Saturday, May 15. We have asked him to share a bit about himself as a way of introduction: I was born in Laredo Texas and raised in Jalapa Veracruz, Mexico, and San Antonio, TX. I have two brothers, Willy, and Mark and one sister Yadira. My mother Rosa lives here in San Antonio with my brother’s family. My father Abraham passed away recently from Covid 19, on February 11, 2021, at the age of 78.

I attended Fox Tech. Class of 1993. I graduated from Palo Alto College with an Associates in Bilingual Studies and at UTSA in San Antonio with a bachelors in Spanish. I taught Spanish, bilingual education and Spanish Immersion in San Antonio TX, Galveston County and Seattle WA for over 8 years. I love to run, play sports, basketball, volleyball, soccer, swimming, and baseball. Also, I like to watch all kinds of movies, bowl, nap, and hike. Any outdoor activity I enjoy a lot.

I was called to my vocation while working as an elementary teacher for NEISD. One day as I was looking at a video on YouTube, "Fishers of Men,”* I received a message from God: "I want you to be my priest." I took time off from teaching to discern my vocation to the priesthood. At that time Fr. Larry Christian was the Pastor at St. Francis of Assisi. I met with him once a month for a whole year to ask him many questions about the call to the priesthood, and finally, I decided to enter the seminary. My time in the seminary has been very educational, spiritual, and fruitful. One of the biggest takeaways that I have learned that will stick with me in my ministry is to maintain my prayer life: the cultivation of devotional life, which can include, daily rosary, chaplets to St. Michael the Archangel, novena to the Holy Spirit, visits to the Blessed Sacrament. The Liturgy of the Hours helps me foster my relationship with our Lord Jesus and my call to discipleship. Also, it helps me keep in contact with the Virgin Mary, the saints, angels, and archangels. My favorite Saint is Charbel Makhlouf, a Maronite monk and priest from Lebanon, because he had a "passion for prayer, holiness, and worshipping." He had a special ability to unite Christian and Muslims. There are over 26000 miracles attributed to the intercession of Saint Charbel Makhlouf, who has performed miracles on people who were sick, disabled, mentally ill, and dying from various religions including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jewish, Druze, Alawites, Atheists.

I love all the liturgical seasons of the Church, but Lent and Easter can be the best ones, for it is through the season of Lent that I do a deeper re-examination of my faith. It is a sacred journey of drawing myself nearer to the one who is love. Easter season is an awesome celebration of our new life in Christ. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us "Christ has destroyed death and now is the FEAST OF FAITH." The book of John is one of my favorites in the Bible. John gives us fewer stories than the other gospels, but those he does present are rich with detail. Scenes in John that are not in the Synoptic Gospels include the discussion with Nicodemus, the conversation with the woman at the well, the raising of Lazarus. The gospel of John is an enjoyable book, full of theological insight and spiritual life. The Gospel of John leads anyone to the deep waters of the mystery of God. "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink!" (Jn 7:37)

To other young men who may be discerning a vocation to the priesthood I would say, do not be afraid to answer the call; make the phone call to the priest and ask him many questions. I found out more about my call to the priesthood by attending daily Mass, praying the rosary daily, and offering a holy hour in the chapel after each Mass. "Developing a daily habit and form of prayer will help you hear more clearly the call of the Lord." I look forward to serving the people of God, celebrating the Holy Mass every day, and offering all the sacraments. Overall witnessing God transform lives will be my greatest joy as a priest. “A man who prays lives out of the mystery of existence, and a man who does not pray scarcely exists. Success in life consists of standing without shame before God.” St. Charbel

This is the link to the YouTube "Fishers of Men" a priesthood vocation story by Chicago priests. https://youtu.be/oYmTDVKbO78