Winter Texans Wanted:

Orthodox Christian Retirees Needed on the Southern Border

Now that there is an occasional bite found in those northern winds, our beloved “Winter Texan” Parishioners are now preparing to return here, to their “other” Parish and winter homelands. It’s not too early to begin thinking about later this winter, when snows will again be deep and the roads slippery. If you have been considering someday enjoying a warmer, Southern winter, think seriously about South Texas! 

Here, along the Tropical and Coastal Borderlands of Texas, quite near South Padre Island and just across the Rio Grande from Mexico, you will also find an active, friendly, ethnically diverse Orthodox Parish which would love to claim you as part of the family during those cold winter months! This past spring, St. George the Great Martyr Orthodox Church has celebrated over 25 years of serving of Christ here in the Rio Grande Valley. St. George’s is an Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Parish, under Archbishop DMITRI of Dallas and the South.

Not only would we welcome you, but we NEED your help! This year, we are expanding our long established across-the-border almsgiving and outreach activities, which include helping two orphanages and supporting a missionary Health Clinic in Reynosa, Mexico. Last summer, we began a weekly Food Ministry (Food Pantry) which is now thriving and serves over 50 families each time it is open! The Food Pantry is administered out of St. George’s Parish Hall, and Father could use your help! 

With your help, we could offer ESL Classes to our Food Pantry participants and neighbors. (Most of our neighbors speak little or no English! We also have newly immigrated Parishoners who would greatly benefit from English-language assistance!) With your help, we could also provide much-needed weekly after school tutorials and homework help for neighborhood students. (Students from most local schools test very low on standardized testing, and many children struggle not only with academic skills, but with the additional challenge of having limited English-language skills.) We would love to have Orthodox volunteers and retirees help us staff these wonderful and much needed outreach programs sponsored here at St. George's - on the Border.

In addition, it is our hope in the foreseeable future to rebuild and expand our all-too-small Parish Hall. The “Casa Amparo” Girl's Orphanage we assist in Reynosa, Mexico also has a number of building projects to better serve the girls they shelter. We would love to have skilled Orthodox builders and tradesmen come down and give us a hand!

There is no better place in the entire country for bird and butterfly watchers than the Texas Rio Grande Valley. If you're ready for a milder winter, and to serve our Lord while enjoying it, join us next winter! Come and enjoy God’s incredibly diverse creation! While doing so, spend your winter months in good company, serving the Church and God’s people.

Quite near the Church, there are a number of Mobile Home Parks, temporary and permanent RV sites, as well as reasonably priced winter rentals. Nearby areas include the towns of Pharr, Edinburg, McAllen and Mission. If you or someone you know might be interested in taking the South Texas plunge next winter, contact us and we will try to help you connect with a good place to stay.

Donations for the Clinic, Orphanages and for the expansion of our Church Hall (so we can better serve others) are all very much appreciated. For more information, or to help find a place to stay in the Valley this winter, contact Father Antonio Perdomo at 956-781-6114 or 781-2388. In addition, Father’s email address is: padreantoniop@aol.com

Check out our Parish web site at: www.st-george-pharr-tx.org/ 

Special Features Found Only in the Rio Grande Valley:

Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/santana.html