"To serve those who serve us"

Here's another story of how God is working through the churches in San Antonio to bless and serve our military and their families.  We are honored to be part of His plan!

While attending a church council meeting, something prompted Don Sweet to suggest the need to reach out to the military.  The council agreed and asked Don to lead a new military ministry.  Sweet said yes, but really had no idea how to pursue a military ministry.

A few weeks later a guest speaker was slated for Don’s regular Thursday morning Bible Study; someone speaking about Military Ministry.  Don describes this as “divine intervention”, and says he was “frankly blown away” by staff member Steve Dorner’s brief talk about how any church can minister to the military. 

But it was when Steve mentioned the upcoming Bridges to Healing Seminar, that Don was almost overwhelmed by God’s guidance. Don had already been talking to his church about reaching out to military people.  Now God was beginning to show him how.

As part of a parish which serves over 4000 families located near both Randolph AFB and Fort Sam Houston (greater San Antonio, Texas area), Don could already see the needs of the military in their midst.  His heart was prepared to become a bridge to healing.  He could hardly wait to attend the Bridges to Healing Seminar in San Antonio, Texas, and when the day arrived he sat on the front row, not wanting to miss anything. 

Don Sweet (far left) at Bridges to Healing Seminar in San Antonio.

Don missed nothing. He describes the seminar as “not only informative but stimulating – it just stirred up all the juices!”  The seminar expanded Don’s perception of a coffee and donuts social hour beyond his imagination, widening his vision to a vast, “almost unlimited” array of ways to care for military members, veterans, and families.

Following the Bridges to Healing Seminar, Sweet set out to recruit a team of volunteers and says the group is about 20 strong and still growing.  “God continues to put people in my path” – people with experience and expertise in working with the military – people with decades of service and endless enthusiasm.



Don Sweet, OLPH Military Ministry reception, July 3



“I am not a young man anymore.  In all my life, I cannot remember a time when our Lord gave me a dream like this, followed by a divine sequence of people (like Steve Dorner) and events to fulfill my dream and make it a reality.  Our new Military Ministry will serve countless veterans.”

Adopting the motto, “To serve those who serve us,” the Military Ministry of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church was launched with a special mass and reception on July 3, 2011.