Did you know there are two kinds of priests? There are diocesan priests and religious priests, and it is important to know the differences between them when we interact with young men discerning the priesthood.

When you have saint in your DNA, it is something to celebrate. Parishioners at Holy Cross Parish in Corpus Christi kicked off a yearlong celebration to commemorate their upcoming centennial and St. Katherine Drexel will play an important role as she did 100 years ago when the parish got its start.

The bishop’s house currently under renovation is one in a long line of homes that the bishops of Corpus Christi have used both as a home and office over the years.

President John F. Kennedy, in his 1961 address to the United Nations, declared: “Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.” More than a half-century later, we are still straddling the brink President Kennedy feared. Extremists of every stripe, in every corner of the world threaten the peace that finds its origin in God.

The world was shocked when the tragic and twisted case of Ariel Castro recently burst into the limelight. Before he took his own life in prison last month, Castro had kidnapped and repeatedly raped, humiliated and beaten three young women held captive inside his Cleveland house for more than 10 years.

This past August, while contemplating the beauties of the Ottawa River from the deck of my family’s cottage on Allumette Island, Father Raymond de Souza, the Canadian commentator and a former-student-become-friend-and-colleague, offered an interesting take on World Youth Day 2016, which will be held in Cracow. When you think about it, he said, “the 20th century happened in Cracow.”

We live in a wilderness, a wilderness of noise. Noise is not just about sound. It has to do with the constant barrage of stimulation to our senses, emotions and even our intellect, (read information overload.)

“Thank you for putting your phones on silent.” This, or something similar, is a common refrain in most churches. How to deal with the almost universal use of mobile devices has become a challenge to many pastors. Others, however, have embraced the new communications media to their advantage.

Sister Consuelo Ramírez, MDPVM passed away in Corpus Christi on Sept. 12 at the age of 74. She was a lifetime member of St. Martin Catholic Church in Kingsville where she served as a religious of the Missionary Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary for 59 years.

More than 1,400 middle and high school students celebrated 30 years of sharing their faith at two Youth Spectaculars Sept. 22 and Sept. 29.

In a lengthy and wide-ranging interview with one of his Jesuit confreres, Pope Francis spoke with characteristic frankness about the perils of overemphasizing Catholic teaching on sexual and medical ethics; the reasons for his deliberate and consultative governing style; and his highest priority for the church today.

The misery experienced by Mariam and husband, Ephrem, and their three young children is just one example of hundreds of thousands of Christians in the Middle East, displaced by wars in which they are not participating.

Lincoln Bishop James D. Conley told Catholics in his diocese that just as he had hoped to do after his installation last November, he has traveled around the 23,800-square-mile diocese, “spending time with you and your families, getting to know you and your communities.”

Anotando a San Ambrosio, dijo el Papa Benedicto XVI en su encíclica Spe Salvi, “No debemos deplorar la muerte, ya que es causa de salvación.”

En la parroquia de San Philip el Apóstol en Corpus Christi, cada tercer jueves de el mes se reúne un grupo de personas para elaborar rosarios que posteriormente serán distribuidos por todo el mundo en donde sean requeridos.

October is the month of the rosary and Sister Begoña Divina Gracia, OP, principal at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School at St. Paul the Apostle parish, said that the school would most certainly do its part to commemorate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary on Oct. 7.

Pregnant, afraid and alone, Crystal Aleman was contemplating the futility of her 28 years of existence on the floor of a jail cell when a complete stranger gave her a rosary and spoke to her of God. For the first time in many years Aleman began to pray and her prayers led her to Hope House and on the road to redemption.

A casual conversation with a friend at Villa Maria community not only intrigued Jerome and Audrey Hennek, it also inspired the couple to take action, as their intrigue soon sparked outrage.

Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey will celebrate three special Masses in October for those who work in the legal, public safety and health related fields.

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, located at 1123 Main Drive in Corpus Christi, will host a Rosary Fest on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Participants will join in praying rosaries all day in groups and at a Mass at 6 p.m.