Inaugural Archbishop Outreach Retreat – St. Monica Church, March 2023
The LOVESTRONG Executive Committee was appointed by our founding pastor, Father Carlos Velázquez, in 2017 as an important delegation for the growth, oversight, and continued development of the LOVESTRONG Marriage Ministry within our community and throughout surrounding communities.
Mission Statement of the LOVESTRONG Executive Committee
The mission of the LOVESTRONG Executive Committee is to promote and encourage Christian marriage and family life values in our community by offering LOVESTRONG Retreat weekends and a support community for married couples throughout Texas and beyond.
Vision Statement of the LOVESTRONG Executive Committee
The LOVESTRONG Executive Committee serves to ensure that the vision of the LOVESTRONG Marriage Ministry continues to strengthen the love and faith between each and every married man and woman participating in this Ministry throughout the area. The LOVESTRONG Executive Committee is dedicated to supporting LOVESTRONG Marriage Ministry Steering Committees from participating church communities, and is steadfast in providing all married couples the opportunity to learn about God’s vision of marriage, family life, and spirituality, thereby leading couples to a clearer understanding of their relationship with each other and with God.
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The LOVESTRONG Executive Committee serves to market and manage LOVESTRONG “Outreach” Retreats to new parishes and churches. Below are the founding and current couples of the LOVESTRONG Executive Committee:
Executive Committee Couples:
Tom and Didi Kolkebeck — Founding Couple
Tom and Didi were married in June 1996 in San Antonio, TX and they celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary this year. In the Spring of 2014, Tom and Didi, along with Fr. Carlos Velazquez, felt the need to create a Retreat program that would give married couples the opportunity to get closer to each other and closer to God as a couple. With the help of 26 couples from Holy Spirit Parish, the very first LOVESTRONG Retreat took place in February 2015. Since then, Tom and Didi have continued to be actively involved in the growth and development of LOVESTRONG Marriage and currently serve as the Chair-couple of the LOVESTRONG Executive Committee. They have been Holy Spirit Catholic Church parishioners since 2011. Both Didi and Tom have also been active in the ACTS ministry for many years. Tom is the youngest of eight children, Didi, the oldest of four. Tom’s and Didi’s parents have been shining examples of Christian sacramental marriage, having each been married over 50 years. Tom and Didi are the proud parents of three beautiful children – Daniela, Elizabeth, and Mateo. We are truly honored and blessed to be a part of this very special Ministry!
Lee and Letty Spain
Lee and Letty celebrated the sacrament of marriage on June 27, 1998 at St. Paul Catholic Church in San Antonio. They have been active parishioners at Holy Spirit since 2006. They are the proud parents of two adult boys, Matt and Sam, and the proud grandparents to four beautiful grandchildren. Lee and Letty’s focus is on ensuring their relationship with Christ is solid and the foundation of their marriage. They focus each day on renewing their vows by exhibiting Christ’s love to each other and the community they serve. They base their love for God, each other, their family, and community on Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” They believe strongly that faith in God and His Church will help them endure any challenges they face, and allow them to be blessed by God in all things.
Art and Tess Jackson
Art and Tess were raised Catholic and were married in December 1988 at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica on their beautiful island of Guam, USA. Art retired from the US Army and they have made San Antonio their home for the past 15 years. They are the proud parents of three handsome sons and most recently welcomed their daughter, by marriage, into the family. They hope to closely journey with their children in their vocations. With their most recent move, they are new parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church – Honey Creek in Spring Branch and intend to share the wonderful Lovestrong ministry they feel blessed to be a part of!
Jimmie and Dulce Flores
Jimmie and Dulce met in Houston and married in Valencia, Venezuela on May 10, 1997. They have been parishioners at Holy Spirit Catholic Church since 2008, and currently participate in several ministries, including ACTS, SAMMinistries, Knights of Columbus, Hospitality, That Man is You (TMIY), and Walking With Purpose (WWP). Together they are blessed to have four children: Eric (in heaven), Kaitlin (27), Aaron (19), and Helena (14). Jimmie and Dulce have benefited enormously from the LOVESTRONG Ministry and are looking forward to helping other couples strengthen their marriages. They are active participants in both the English and Spanish retreats and served a leadership role in the development and delivery of the inaugural LOVESTRONG Virtual Conferences. To spread this wonderful message, they serve as Assistant Co-Chairs on the Social Media and Virtual Outreach (SMVO) subcommittee. GOD first! LIVE. LOVE. STRONG!
Erika and Ramon Villarreal
Ramon y Erika Villarreal se conocieron en la Universidad y después de un noviazgo de 3 años, se casaron en Marzo de 1996; juntos fueron bendecidos por Dios con 3 hijos Grethel (25), Nermer(23) y Airam (21). Hace más de 10 años, llegaron a San Antonio buscando un mejor futuro para su familia; con raíces católicas, no dudaron en unirse a la comunidad católica del Espíritu Santo en San Antonio, donde su reencuentro con Dios, se ha fortalecido a través de los retiros que han vivido, servido y lidereado, así como en los diferentes ministerios en los que sirven en su lenguaje natal (español). Ellos han lidereado 3 retiros de LOVESTRONG y la 1er Video Conferencia LOVESTRONG en español con participación de parejas de diferentes países de habla hispana en América y Europa. Ellos vivieron el retiro de LOVESTRONG, en el 2017 y han sido ejemplo de su amor al servicio de Dios y a la comunidad, y fue por medio de este y del servicio como su matrimonio se ha fortalecido mucho y han estado dispuestos a compartir su vida, sus experiencias y como el matrimonio debe tener a Dios en su vida. Ramon es miembro de Los Caballeros de Colon, es ministro extraordinario de eucaristía, lector, fue miembro de ACTS Core y ha proporcionado clases de teología a los hermanos de ACTS como seguimiento y crecimiento. Erika es ministro de eucaristía y fue facilitadora en cursos de Biblia. Ambos han participado en retiros de ACTS misiones compartiendo el amor de Dios fuera de San Antonio. Estuvieron involucrados con LifeTeen en HT y son parte del comité de la Virgen de Guadalupe en HT. Después de 1 año de preparación teológica y catequesis, ambos han sido comisionados por el arzobispo, como ministros comisionados de la Formación para el Ministerio Parroquial.
George and Irene Mitschke
George and Irene Mitschke were married on March 1, 1996, and convalidated their marriage a year later at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Selma, Texas. They have been parishioners of Holy Spirit Catholic Church since 2011. Both George and Irene are active within the parish serving as Eucharistic Ministers, ACTS, faith formation teachers, LoveStrong Steering Committee members, Knights of Columbus, Walking with Purpose, and Parish Financial Council. They have a daughter, Annalisa (26), married to Douglas Dalke and a son Philip (24). George retired from the Army in 2007 with 20 years of service and currently works for the Defense Logistics Agency. Irene currently works for the Defense Health Agency. After attending the first LOVESTRONG retreat in 2015, they recognized this ministry provides a community that brings like-minded couples together to strengthen Christian faith-filled marriages and decided to devote their time in helping other couples. They feel truly blessed for the opportunity to serve with this wonderful Marriage Ministry.
Kim and Larry Bock
Lawrence “Larry” and Kim Bock were married on August 14, 1982 at St Thomas More Catholic Church in San Antonio. They were blessed with two children, Kelly and Kevin, who are both grown and have loving families of their own. Larry and Kim participated in a Lovestrong retreat as a retreatant couple in September 2019, at Holy Spirit parish, where their own marriage was renewed. The experience caused them to want to give back to the ministry to serve other couples. They have participated in several Lovestrong retreats and other activities since then, and now serve on the Executive Committee since 2024. Larry and Kim have contributed to several non-profits separately over the years, and Lovestrong allows them to work together towards the goal of enhancing and strengthening marriages. The couple is passionate about supporting the message of Pope Francis: “New creativity is needed, to express, amid today’s challenges, the values that constitute us as a people…”.
Julieta and Efrain
Efrain and Julieta Garza have been blessed with nearly 29 years of marriage rooted in love, faith, and resilience. They met in northern Mexico, married in the Catholic Church, and began their life together when Efrain was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California. Guided by their shared faith, they raised two children, Sebastian, 27, and Cynthia, 25, who is married to Bernardo. Efrain and Julieta eagerly await the arrival of their first grandchild, Santiago Augustine, a cherished blessing from God. As dedicated parishioners at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in New Braunfels, Efrain and Julieta have served in various ministries, including El Movimiento Familiar Cristiano Católico, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, and now LoveStrong. Their ministry journey has strengthened their commitment to guiding couples in faith. Leading the second Spanish LoveStrong retreat, themed “United Through the Love of God”—”Unidos a través del Amor de Dios,” has been among their proudest accomplishments. The retreat created a nurturing space where couples could strengthen their bond and draw closer to each other and to God, offering a deeply inspiring experience of faith in action. Through this example, Efrain and Julieta hope to inspire others to embrace a Christ-centered marriage anchored in love and unity.
FOUNDING PASTOR
Very Reverend Carlos B. Velazquez
The Very Reverend Carlos B. Velazquez was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1990 for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Fr. Carlos has served throughout the Archdiocese in various capacities including as Parochial Vicar, in Gonzales, Texas, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese, Pastor of St. John Berchmans Catholic Church, Pastor at The Church and School of the Holy Spirit, Pastor at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and School, New Braunfels, TX, and presently as the Rector at the San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio. He enjoys preparing couples for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and is involved in many religious and civic organizations throughout the Archdiocese. Fr. Carlos appreciates the value of and the need for promoting the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and is totally supportive of the LOVESTRONG Marriage Ministry Program.
