News - July 2019 RSS Feed

In late August of 2017, Hurricane Harvey, the second-largest natural disaster in U.S. history hit the Texas Gulf Coast. In its aftermath, Bishop Michael Mulvey saw the devastation left in its wake and knew the road to recovery was not going to be an easy one. It would forever change the lives of people along the coast. 

Charlotte Stovall has seen it all during her 16 years at The Ark Assessment Center and Emergency Shelter for Youth. As a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), she is one of the first staff members to encounter a new child at the center. 

When most people think of taking a summer vacation, lazy afternoons in the sun, splashing in the pool, or traveling to an exotic location are usually what come to mind. However, for Thomas Swierc, Daniel Flores and Raymond Pendleton, three seminarians from the Diocese of Corpus Christi, the summer offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn and grow by immersing themselves in different languages, cultures and traditions. 

In seeing what is happening all around us, we may wonder where God is. There have been moments throughout history that make that question even more present. In 1956, Pope Pius XXII invoked the name of God crying out: “God, God, God! as he witnessed the invasion of Hungary. That cry for God then mobilized many Catholics to commit themselves to live the Gospel wherever they were, thus offering God the possibility to “return” into society. To strive to live like the first Christians, witnessing the living presence of God.

Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmody welcomed clients, staff and friends of the Mother Teresa Day Shelter as the early morning rays beat sideways through the new covered pavilion on July 30. A lectionary, a bowl of holy water, a cross and candles were set next to him on a table covered with a white table cloth.

The Pax Christi Sisters celebrated the 50th Anniversary of their foundation at the Pax Christi Liturgical Retreat Center on July 19. Bishop Michael Mulvey presided over the Mass with Msgr. Seamus McGowan, Msgr. Thomas McGettrick, Father James Stembler, Father Peter Elizardo, Father Eric Chapa, Father Isaias Estepa and their chaplain, Father Don Downey, concelebrating.

Bishop Michael Mulvey greeted seminarians, their families, the Corpus Christi Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (CCDCCW) and a Serra Club member, Dorothy Garza, at the 2019 Seminarian Family Jamboree and Burse Mass held at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center and Chapel at Texas A&M University-Kingsville on July 20. The “Meet and Greet” and hor's d’ oeuvres were provided by the CCDCCW.

It isn’t every day that you get to mingle with turtles, parrots, snakes and butterflies, but for persons with a disability and their parent or caregiver a Summer Fun Day on July 22 at the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, was just such a day.

The heat index in McAllen, Texas was 125 degrees on July 13, but that did not stop members of the pro-life movement from delivering a semi-truck full of supplies and thousands of dollars in aid to respite centers at the border of the United States and Mexico.

In the wake of terrible conditions of negligence and abuse reported at some U.S. hospice facilities, several Catholic doctors are emphasizing the need for Christians to embrace a ministry of aiding hospice patients and their families.

Una fiesta litúrgica, una diócesis y una ciudad con el mismo nombre definieron la tarde del 20 de junio cuando más de 900 católicos se unieron al obispo Michael Mulvey para la celebración de la solemnidad del Santísimo Cuerpo y Sangre de Cristo. El evento superó todas las expectativas, levantó corazones y unió a las personas como un solo cuerpo. La identidad mística y espiritual de un pueblo como hijos de Dios se reveló en la solemne pero gozosa celebración.

Sister Mary of Holy Hope, a sister with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity and members of the SOLT community celebrated the installation of an 1874 Hutchings-Plaisted Opus 42 organ at its permanent home, Our Lady of Corpus Christi Perpetual Adoration Chapel. The celebration included an organ blessing and dedication recital on July 15.

Fifty-seven honorees from parishes throughout the Diocese of Corpus Christi received recognition at the Fifth Annual Evangelii Gaudium Recognition Ceremony on July 18 at Corpus Christi Cathedral.

Four young men from the Diocese of Corpus Christi will begin their journey of discernment for vocation to the priesthood. Entering seminary in the fall are Jim Craig, Mark Valdez, Matthew Kyle and Javier Palacios, Jr.

Brother Daniel Tozzi and Sister Maria of Merciful Love from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) made their Perpetual Profession on July 16 and July 18, respectively. Bishop Michael Mulvey presided over the Masses of Religious Profession at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Perpetual Adoration Chapel. 

Sister Barbara Ann Bluntzer, a native of Corpus Christi, is celebrating 70 years with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Wood in Indiana. Currently, she ministers as a tutor for St. Patrick School in Terre Haute, Ind.

Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, Inc. is partnering with Men’s Wearhouse to launch its 12th annual Suit Drive, a month-long initiative that collects gently-used professional clothing for Americans transitioning back into the workforce.

“Y encontré deleite en la raza humana”. Leemos estas palabras de Dios en el Libro de Proverbios el domingo de la Santísima Trinidad. Qué profunda realidad es escuchar que Dios se deleita en nosotros. Tomemos un momento para reflexionar sobre esto: podemos ser el deleite de Dios.

The Most Rev. Wm. Michael Mulvey, Bishop of Corpus Christi, made the following announcements:

The Board of Directors of The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) is pleased to announce that Joseph Meaney, Ph.D., has been named as the new president of the Center upon the retirement of its current President, Dr. John M. Haas, at the end of June. Dr. Haas served as the president of the center for over twenty-two years and was involved with the Search Committee in finding his successor.