Our History

The Birth of MDM

In November 2001, the religious community known as Mission of Divine Mercy (MDM) was “born” when six individuals came to the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul in New Braunfels, Texas at the invitation of the pastor, Monsignor O’Callaghan. Soon after they were also received by Archbishop Flores of San Antonio.

These six individuals were a varied group. Three of the original members were born in the United States: the Founder, Father John Mary Foster, formerly a member of the Community of St. John (CSJ), an order begun in France, had been ordained in 1987; Sister Magdalene Foster (Fr. John Mary’s sister) had started her religious life in the Dominican Order; Brother Tony Pillari had also been a member of the CSJ. The other half of the original six members were all newer to religious life and hailed from Monterrey, Mexico: Sister Amapola Granados, Brother Juan Pablo Guemes and Maria Felicitas Bortoni, a consecrated laywoman. (Brother Juan Pablo returned to Mexico after a year in New Braunfels. He had a hearing loss which made learning English very difficult.)

Prior to their arrival in New Braunfels, these individuals had been living for several years, along with others, as part of the Catholic Solitudes community at Rancho Maria, a rustic, contemplative community in the South Texas desert founded by a former CSJ priest. It was during these years at Rancho Maria that Father John Mary began to feel that God was calling him to start a new community. As he tells it:

“I was reluctantly coming to accept that, if I was to follow the call I was sensing, I was going to have to set off on my own and start something new myself. I dreaded doing that. I’ve often read of founders of religious communities who had great enthusiasm and a passion for something. At that point, I was feeling tired physically and exhausted interiorly. With all the different struggles that were going on around me, I certainly didn’t have the energy or drive to launch a new community.”

“Also, I didn’t feel the grace to be starting something. I’m more of a disciple than a leader, more careful than bold. I was very reluctant, and I was resisting this step. But eventually I felt that if I kept resisting it, I was resisting the Lord. As I would say to Him when the road of MDM was difficult: ‘Remember, Lord, this was Your idea. I didn’t want to do this…'”

That was in January of 2001, providentially at the beginning of the New Millennium. The little community-to-be had originally wanted to begin in Monterrey, Mexico, but when that door was closed, they waited for direction from the Lord. Around that time, some men from the ACTS retreat team at Sts. Peter and Paul came to make an Encounter With Jesus  retreat at Rancho Maria. From that contact, bonds began to be formed with Sts. Peter and Paul. And from this came the invitation to come to the parish.

Thus, ten months after the project was conceived, the little group arrived in New Braunfels, where, by the grace of God and the help of Monsignor O’Callaghan and many lay friends at Sts. Peter and Paul, the Mission of Divine Mercy began to take root in this corner of the Texas Hill Country.

Holy Hour at SP&P Dec 2004 — Holy Hour at Sts. Peter & Paul - 2004

Immediately, the new MDM community began assisting in the regular life of the parish, and at the request of Monsignor O’Callaghan, also began offering special spiritual activities to promote a deeper awareness of and reverence for the Eucharist, as well as some youth ministries.

When MDM had first arrived in New Braunfels, it was with the sense that this would be a temporary location. However, the warm reception by the people of the area, and an invitation to stay seemed to the Community a sign from the Lord that He was planting them here. But the way forward still held obstacles. For instance, they would eventually need their own property to carry out the ministry to which they felt called.

Becoming A Monastery, Sanctuary and Retreat Center

In November 2004, with the blessing of Monsignor O’Callaghan and the Archbishop, the Community made a down payment on 128 acres of land on the outskirts of New Braunfels. The property, which had functioned in recent years as a deer-lease for hunting, was almost completely undeveloped, the only structures being an abandoned trailer and a ramshackle camp house with a floor that threatened to fall through. Nevertheless, on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Community gathered with almost 200 friends to consecrate the property, and all those who would visit the property in years to come, to the Blessed Mother.

Though they were now property owners, it would be several years before the Community could actually live on the property. During those interim years they continued to live in housing provided by some generous parishioners. But, little by little, they began to develop their new property to serve a triple purpose: monastery, sanctuary, and retreat center.

In March 2005, on the Feast of St. Joseph, work began on a simple roof structure—no walls or flooring—that would provide shelter for the regular weekend Masses that were already taking place at the Mission. This structure was christened “St. Joseph’s Chapel.” After Mass, if the weather was poor, people gathered to socialize in the tiny camp house.

OLG Procession — Consecration of new Mission property

Another “first” in 2005 was the formation of a lay branch of the Community that would come to be known as the Amici Christi (Friends of Christ). This lay branch was for those who wanted to commit themselves to real membership in MDM by living the spirituality of the Community according to their particular situation in the world. The Amici Christi would help to carry the message of MDM and their experience of God’s mercy into other, larger circles.

With increasing requests for more spiritual activities for youth and adults, the need for some sort of meeting space at the Mission grew more pressing. This resulted in the construction of the multi-purpose St. Michael’s Hall in 2006, and then the construction of St. Raphael’s in 2008 to provide much needed offices and additional meeting space.

During the early years, the Community offered a variety of retreats and spiritual activities at the Mission. Programs were also initiated for the spiritual development of young men—the St. Michael Squadron—and young women—the Queen of Peace group.

However, the Encounter With Jesus  retreats, which are unique to MDM, had to be held at other locations throughout the archdiocese since there were not adequate facilities to house and feed the retreatants at the Mission. Over the years, securing these locations became increasingly difficult, and for a time the EWJ retreats were suspended.

At the start of 2012, the Community was still living in its “temporary” quarters in New Braunfels. But there was a growing sense among the members that in order to develop a stronger spiritual program at the Mission, it was necessary to live there.  Building two monasteries, however—one for men and one for women—was a huge financial undertaking for a small group that existed on donations and without any regular source of income. But just as the Community was set to begin a big capital campaign to raise money for the monasteries, God seemed to open a side door—some houses adjacent to the property became available. The Community purchased these to serve as immediate living quarters until actual monasteries could be constructed at some future date.

The Community moved into their new quarters at the end of 2012. And very soon a schedule of regular weekday Masses and Holy Hours at the Mission were opened to the public. At last, Our Lord in His Eucharistic Presence could be dwelling there perpetually. The Mission was developing as a spiritual presence in the area, and as the true spiritual home of MDM. These were significant steps in fulfilling the Mission’s triple role of monastery, sanctuary, and retreat center.

The Mission was emerging as a spiritual resource for the San Antonio archdiocese, but also attracting people from beyond the archdiocese. Saturday mini-retreats on different topics of spirituality and spiritual development were attended by individuals, parish groups, cenacles, prayer groups, and ACTS teams, among others. The annual Triduum Retreat drew many people to participate in the powerful liturgical celebrations of Holy Week, including Good Friday’s Walking Way of the Cross, and Holy Saturday’s Rosary of the Sorrowful Mother. But the largest crowd of the year continued to assemble on the Sunday after Easter—Divine Mercy Sunday. On that day, tents were added to both sides of St. Joseph’s Chapel to handle the large turnout.

Meanwhile, it had been years since MDM had been able to offer its Encounter With Jesus retreat. This was a problem. People were asking for it. But retreat space around the archdiocese was at a premium due to the success of the ACTS program, and weekends had to be reserved years in advance. There was also a strong sense among the Community that the EWJs  were best when held at the Mission; where the Mission’s serene natural surroundings promoted a peaceful, contemplative atmosphere conducive to spending time with the Lord. In 2013 a capital campaign was initiated to build a facility for the EWJ, and a ceremonial groundbreaking took place on Divine Mercy Sunday, 2014.

The Monsignor O’Callaghan Divine Mercy Center was dedicated in June 2015. This facility provided kitchen, dining, and conference room space. Though sleeping accommodations still consisted of a large dorm-style room in St. Michael’s Hall, the O’Callaghan Center allowed the Community to begin holding the EWJ  retreats regularly throughout the year, and also initiate the Cor Jesu  retreats that are a follow-up to the EWJ.

THE COMPLETED MSGR. O'CALLAGHAN DIVINE MERCY CENTER

ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS RETREAT - SPANISH MEN

For most of the year, St. Joseph’s Chapel continued to accommodate the growing number of people who liked to occasionally visit the Mission and attend Mass. However, it became apparent that for certain special Masses and events, such as Divine Mercy Sunday, a larger space was needed. In 2017, the Community felt a call from the Lord to begin work on a new outdoor sanctuary. The hill on which the sanctuary would be built was named Tepeyac, after the hillside where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego. The sanctuary itself was called the Teocalli, a native word meaning “House of God.” It was the word Our Lady used to indicate to Juan Diego the type of structure she wished to have built on the hillside.

Clearing of the hillside began in March 2017, and even though there was still work to be done in developing the hillside, the first Mass was celebrated at the Teocalli on October 13, 2017, the 100th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. The rapidity with which the Teocalli project moved from conception to near completion was a Mission “miracle.”

During the next year and a half, two more structures were added at Tepeyac. First came St. Anne’s Pavilion to provide shade, shelter and ease of access for those with special needs. And then the Sacristy & Vesting building which is a combination sacristy, vesting and small meetings facility.

When the covid pandemic hit the country and the world in early 2020, and stringent regulations were put in place limiting the number of people who could be in a church, the Community made the decision to celebrate Sunday Masses on Tepeyac where people could social distance but no one need be turned away due to limits on capacity. For an entire year, through heat and cold, Mass was celebrated at the altar of the Teocalli, with the congregation spread out on the hillside below. For the Community it was an unforeseen use of the Teocalli; but not for God.

ST. ANNE'S PAVILION - SACRISTY & VESTING BLDG

The Community

New Members Arrive & Some Depart

While MDM’s first two decades witnessed impressive development of the Mission’s infrastructure and spiritual apostolate, the growth of the religious community was more modest.

Brother Mikael entered the novitiate on Divine Mercy Sunday 2008, and Brother Daniel entered the novitiate on Pentecost 2016.

In December 2015, Father Moses (formerly Brother Tony) left the Community in order to pursue a degree in canon law and his call to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass.

Peter Roderique

Peter Roderique joined the Community in October of 2016 and made promises as the Community’s first consecrated layman on Pentecost 2017.

Raymundo Guemes

In the fall of 2018, Raymundo Guemes, who as Brother Juan Pablo had been among the founding six but had returned to Mexico due to a hearing problem, reentered the Community as a postulant.

Susannah of Jesus

On Pentecost, June 2020, Susannah of Jesus formally entered the novitiate as a consecrated laywoman.

Maria Felicitas Bortoni

In February of 2019, MDM experienced the first passing of one of its founding members. Maria Felicitas was born into eternal life on February 12 after a long struggle with cancer. She was buried in the newly created MDM cemetery adjacent to St. Joseph’s Chapel.

Amici Christi

One part of the Community that has experienced sustained growth is the Amici Christi lay branch. As of the autumn of 2021, membership, including those in the four-year formation process, hovered at approximately 110 people. Amici Christi members meet monthly at the Mission for prayer, fellowship and spiritual instruction that encourages them in living out the spirituality of MDM in their daily lives.

Going Forward

In reflecting on why God has called MDM into existence, Father John Mary often makes reference to the true story of a priest who sensed the Blessed Mother was entrusting a special mission to him.

The priest asked Her, “Why did you choose me? Certainly there is someone better.”

And the Blessed Mother replied, “My son, I have chosen you because you are the least apt instrument; thus no one will say that this is your work…[It] must be My work alone. Through your weakness I will manifest My strength; through your nothingness I will manifest My power.”

Looking back on its first two decades, Father John Mary would be the first to describe the history of MDM as one of modest accomplishments, humanly speaking. Nevertheless, he and the Community remain convinced of deeper plans.

“We struggle along, feeling that the Lord is calling MDM to be a little instrument of His Mercy in the Paschal Times that our world is living. We believe that He has plans for MDM that will be fulfilled in His Time.”

Our History

The Birth of MDM

Becoming A Monastery, Sanctuary and Retreat Center

The Community

Going Forward

Jesus, we trust in You.

MISSION OF DIVINE MERCY