Sister Parish Relationship Committee (SPaRC)
About
We foster and strengthen relationships between Prince of Peace and its sister parishes at Resurrection Parish in East Houston and Sagrado Corazón de Jesus Parish in Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala, promoting mutual sharing, spirituality, and servant leadership to enhance faith and cultural exchange founded on love, trust, and mutual respect.
Have Questions?Learn More About SPaRC
As Catholics, we believe that we are especially called to heed our Lord Jesus Christ’s last word to the apostles, to make disciples of all nations.
To do this, we must be willing to listen to those that we are called to serve and to be willing to work with great humility.
In this regard, we follow the Sending Out Servants (SOS) teaching philosophy – having the attitude of both a Servant and Guest, whose actions and speech embody a respectful appreciation of other cultures. This allows us to work with our brothers and sisters to grow the faith communities that they envision for themselves.
Our relationship with Resurrection Parish consists of joint activities which bring our parish faith communities together in fellowship and prayer.
Likewise, SPaRC organizes short-term missionary travel teams to Guatemala that enable us all to come together as equals under the belief that we are all God’s children and each of us offers unique blessings to one another.
Each year we have a Covenant Mass at either Resurrection or Prince of Peace in January.
In 2023, we celebrated our 35th covenant anniversary!
The covenant between the two parishes has become the most successful “twinning” of two parishes in the entire Archdiocese.
Volunteer with SPaRC
Anyone 18 and up
SPaRC is constantly growing and evolving. Additionally, we believe that every parishioner has a unique talent that may aid in our effort to be Apostles to our fellow brothers and sisters in our sister parishes. As such, we ask that you consider sharing your time and talent in glorifying God.
Create, develop, and implement spiritual and practical activities with Sister Parishes in Houston and Guatemala.
Bilingual translators needed
Support mission work in Guatemala
Volunteer commitment – one to two days/month
For the most part, volunteers serve as needed depending on the situation.
Since our Covenant Anniversary is in January every year, we need people to help plan and coordinate the Covenant Mass and the reception after the Mass.
The SPaRC committee is also involved with the Mission to Guatemala.
The SPaRC committee will serve as needed to make decisions and oversee financial requests for building projects from Guatemalan villages and so forth.
SPaRC will also act as a working board for the mission and will oversee its development and overall issues affecting the mission with the Holy Spirit’s welcome guidance.
Volunteer commitment – one to two days/month.
Because volunteering offers the opportunity to strengthen global solidarity, foster compassionate connections, and live out one’s faith by supporting and enriching the lives of others in need.
If you are 18 years old and above, our archdiocese requires all adult volunteers to complete safe environment training.
This short one-hour online training teaches people how to create a secure and protected environment for everyone, especially children, by recognizing and preventing potential risks or harm.
Click here to register for Safe Environment Training.
Contact Us
Carol Brown
SPaRC Coordinator
Susan Gallagher
Director of Mercy Ministry
Ana Garza-Ibarra (Bilingual)
Associate Director of Mercy Ministry