News - April 2015 RSS Feed

On Saturday, April 25, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook Kathmandu, Nepal, and surrounding areas. Relief efforts continue as the official death toll surpasses 5,000. Thousands of people lack adequate shelter, access to clean water and essential living supplies.

Dioceses throughout the United States, including the Diocese of Corpus Christi, will hold a special collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign on the weekend of May 16-17. The campaign supports projects throughout the world that develop the use of media for evangelization.

As the city cleaned up after a night of riots, looting and fires following the funeral of Freddie Gray, Archbishop William E. Lori said the church's place is to pray, be a voice for peace, and participate in a wider community dialogue to solve the systemic issues that led to the unrest.

Inclement weather and logistical pressures were delaying aid to hundreds of thousands of Nepalese earthquake victims. "The logistical problems are enormous and sadly, relief is being delayed," Father Pius Perumana, director of Caritas Nepal, said April 28.

Outside the U.S. Supreme Court building April 28 for arguments on several same-sex marriage cases, hundreds of advocates on either side of the issue milled about, looking for a place to stake a claim for their viewpoint in the public square.

The Central American Minors (CAM) program, a new initiative of the U.S. government which allows children in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to apply for asylum and humanitarian parole in the United States from their home countries, is a tool that helps save children’s lives, said a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ representative.

A few days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the rights of states to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, more than 30 religious leaders representing diverse faith communities throughout the United States have reaffirmed their shared commitment to marriage and religious freedom. On April 23 they sent an open letter entitled “The Defense of Marriage and the Right of Religious Freedom: Reaffirming a Shared Witness” to all in positions of public service.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop David E. Fellhauer of Victoria, Texas, and named Father Brendan Cahill, a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, to succeed him. Bishop Fellhauer is 75, the age at which canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation to the pope.

The Incarnate Word Academy boys’ golf team is headed to the TAPPS State Golf tournament along with Lady Angel Mikaela Rendon from the girls’ team.

Five sisters of the Incarnate Word of the Blessed Sacrament were honored for their years of consecrated life at the Mass of Thanksgiving and Jubilee of Profession of Vows on April 18 at St. Patrick Church. Bishop Michael Mulvey was the main celebrant and Bishop Daniel Flores from the Diocese of Brownsville was the homilist. Many priests throughout the diocese concelebrated the Mass, including Msgr. Roger Smith, pastor of St. Patrick Church.

Demonstrating notable unity, the pro-life community has come together in support of HB 3074, which requires the provision of artificial nutrition and hydration for patients who wish it, unless the provision of food and water causes harm to the patient.

Some 200 parishioners attended the Second Annual Ministries Day Conference at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Alice on Sunday, April 19. Rosie Rodriguez, Director of the Office of Development for the Diocese of Brownsville, made a presentation on "Stewardship, Obedience and Discipleship" based on the book of Exodus.

The Texas Catholic Conference celebrated passage of the Tax Credit Scholarship Bill by a vote of 18-12 in the Texas Senate. The legislation provides a tax incentive to businesses that donate to non-profit scholarships, which help low-income families attend accredited private or public schools of their choice or to obtain educational assistance.

Four members (pictured above, from left) Tabitha Lee-Sang, Sabrina Herrero, Noah Dimas and Bridget Lee-Sang of the St. John Paul II High School Rotary Interact Club represented the school at the Rotary International South Texas District 5930 District Conference on April 17 at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. An Interact Club poster was displayed illustrating some of the club activities.

The Incarnate Word Academy band and choir competed at the TAPPS State Music Championships on March 28 at Mary Hardin Baylor University in Belton, Texas.

For the fifth time in a row, the U.S. Supreme Court has stopped the federal government’s contraceptive mandate. In an order issued April 19, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito prevented the federal government from enforcing its contraceptive mandate against a range of Pennsylvania-based religious organizations including Catholic Charities and other Catholic schools and social service organizations connected with the Diocese of Erie and the Diocese of Pittsburgh.