San Fernando Cathedral is the inspiring story of how a church built nearly two and a half centuries ago remains a wellspring of life an renewal today. Know for its public rituals that attract thousands to down town San Antonio - particularly during Holy Week and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - San Fernando Cathedral nurtures and nourishes a diverse and dynamic population; it is indeed the soul of the city.

San Fernando Cathedral is the inspiring story of how a church built nearly two and a half centuries ago remains a wellspring of life an renewal today. Know for its public rituals that attract thousands to down town San Antonio - particularly during Holy Week and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - San Fernando Cathedral nurtures and nourishes a diverse and dynamic population; it is indeed the soul of the city.

The year of the COVID pandemic was a time like no other in modern history. A historical pandemic, a racial reckoning, a tense and bitterly divided political election, an insurrection at the capital, and the Texas record freeze created a year that will be long remembered. Preachers were charged with making some sense of what was happening and at the same time giving hope that the community would make it through this time together. Through a year of homilies based on the Catholic readings of Sundays and Feast days, Father David Garcia connects the stories of this historic year to the light of Scripture. The homilies weave human experiences with Hispanic culture and traditions as well as moral lessons and Catholic spirituality. Pandemic Preaching helps inspire all who have been through this difficult time with powerful stories and sound theological reflection. At the same time these writings challenge us to learn the lessons of this unique and difficult year for ourselves.

Taylor Nichols is a young writer who pens obscure historical guidebooks about his hometown, San Antonio, Texas. His work receives little notice until he unearths a 100 year old mystery that the powerful had hoped would never be uncovered. How far will the city's power brokers go to silence Taylor and his band of friends known as The Travis Club? Intrigue and romance bring this mystery alive in a one of a kind city, San Antonio.

The Greatest Spanish monarch, St. Fernando III, King of Castile and Leon, was born in the year 1199 - exactly 100 years after the death of his illustrious ancestor, El Cid. In him would be combined the soul of a knight dedicated entirely to God, the irresistible power of the Cid, and, due to his royal heritage, the authority to marshal the might of an entire kingdom against the enemies of Christ. Personally leading his armies into battle, he took back more territory from Islam than any other king in history. First cousin to St. Louis IX of France, Fernando died a holy death in 1252. His incorrupt body can still be seen in the Cathedral of Seville and his feast day, May 30th, is traditionally a holy day of obligation in Spain.

Horizons of the Sacred explores the distinctive worldview underlying the faith and lived religion of Catholics of Mexican descent living in the United States. Religious practices, including devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebration of the Day of the Dead, the healing tradition of curanderismo, and Good Friday devotions such as the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis), reflect the increasing influence of Mexican traditions in U.S. Catholicism, especially since Mexicans and Mexican Americans are a growing group in most Roman Catholic congregations.In their introduction, Timothy Matovina and Gary Riebe-Estrella analyze the ways Mexican rituals and beliefs pose significant challenges and opportunities for Catholicism in the United States. Original essays by theologians, historians, and ethnographers provide a rich interdisciplinary dialogue on how religious traditions function for Mexican American Catholics, revealing the symbolic world at the heart of their spirituality. The authors speak to the diverse meanings behind these ceremonies, explaining that Mexican American (and other Latino) Catholics use them to express not only religious devotion, but also ethnic identity and patriotism, solidarity, and, in some cases, their condition as exiles. The result is a multilayered vision of Mexican American religion, which touches as well on issues of racism and discrimination, poverty, and the role of women.

What is the future of liberation thought in the Americas? In this groundbreaking work, Christopher D. Tirres takes up this question by looking at the methodological connections between two quintessentially American traditions: liberation theology and pragmatism. He explains how pragmatism lends philosophical clarity and depth to some of liberation theology's core ideas and assumptions. Liberation theology in turn offers pragmatism a more nuanced and sympathetic approach to religious faith, especially its social and pedagogical dimensions. Ultimately, Tirres crafts a philosophical foundation that ensures the continued relevance of liberation thought in today's world. Keeping true to the method of pragmatism, the book begins inductively with a set of actual experiences-- the Good Friday liturgies at the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas-- and provides a compelling description of the way these performative rituals integrate the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of faith. Subsequent chapters probe this integration deductively at three levels of theoretical analysis: experience/metaphysics, sociality, and pedagogy. As Tirres shows, the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of faith emerge in different yet related ways at all three levels. He argues that utilizing the categories of the aesthetic and ethical enables a richer understanding of the dynamic relationship between faith and politics. This book builds new bridges between a number of discourses and key figures, and will be of interest to all who are interested in the liberatory potential of engaged faith praxis, especially when it is expressed in the form of religious ritual.

San Antonio is in the national spotlight as one of the fastest growing and most dynamic emerging major cities in America. Yet local lore has it that every Texan has two hometowns—his own and San Antonio. The Alamo City's charm, colorful surroundings, and diverse cultures combine to make it one of the most interesting places in Texas and the nation. In San Antonio Uncovered, Mark Rybczyk examines some of the city's internationally known legends and lore (including ghost stories) and takes a nostalgic look at landmarks that have disappeared. He also introduces some of the city’s characters and unusual features, debunks local myths, and corrects common misconceptions. Rybczyk embraces San Antonio's peculiarities by chronicling the cross-country journey of the World’s Largest Boots to their home in front of North Star Mall; the origins of the Frito corn chip and chewing gum; the annual Cornyation of King Anchovy; and Dwight Eisenhower's stint as the football coach at St Mary’s University. This completely updated, new edition of San Antonio Uncovered highlights San Antonio as a modern, thriving city with the feel of a small town that sees beauty in the old and fights to save it, even something as seemingly insignificant as an old Humble Oil Station; and its diverse inhabitants as those who appreciate the blending of the old and the new at the Tobin Center and fight to save what’s left of the Hot Wells Hotel.

"This book, the first of two volumes devoted to the Lone Star State, covers the central, southern, and Gulf Coast region (the earliest areas of Spanish and Anglo settlement and the majority of the counties that won independence from Mexico in 1836) and includes four major cities--Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, and San Antonio."--Publisher's description.

Discusses lodging, dining, attractions, and entertainment in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, along with information on trip planning, security, and shopping.