50 years of proclaiming Christ’s presence

These words of Christ, which have come to be known as “the Great Commission,” are at once inspiring as they are daunting. As followers of Jesus Christ and members of his body, we strive daily to live the life of faith, a life that necessarily includes taking up Christ’s directive to spread the good news of salvation to all. Confident in our Lord’s assurance that he will be with us always, we answer Christ’s call to proclaim the Gospel message to our world, which more and more seems desperately in need of hearing it.  

Among the many witnesses to faith in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, the work of the South Texas Catholic remains a vital way to proclaim the presence of Christ here in South Texas.  This month, May 2016, we celebrate the South Texas Catholic and its continuous work of making Jesus Christ known for half a century. 

With the publication of its first issue on May 6, 1966 under the then-title Texas Gulf Coast Register, our diocesan newspaper was established by Bishop Thomas J. Drury to provide “authentic news and information from a Catholic viewpoint.”  Taking to heart the words of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Means of Social Communications ( Inter Mirifica) that a “truly Catholic press should be set up and encouraged,” Bishop Drury inaugurated the diocesan newspaper as one of his first major initiatives in order “to instill a fully Christian spirit into readers.” 

From the beginning, the newspaper recognized the need to provide reporting and features in both English and Spanish and, in 1970, the paper started to be printed locally under the new name the Texas Gulf Coast Catholic emphasizing not only more local stories but also underscoring its Catholic identity. The then assistant editor, Father Raymond Peña—now Bishop Raymond Peña—remarked “there has always been a need in every diocese to communicate to the faithful items not covered by the public press.” True to this vision and its original mission, the newspaper continued to provide important reporting on local, national and international news, both secular and religious, all from a Catholic perspective.

In January 1980, under the editorship of Father Robert Freeman, the paper adopted the new name of South Texas Catholic and renewed its mission to “look no further than the Gospel message to evangelize, teach and inform.” In fact, throughout its history, the newspaper has served as an indispensable aid to the diocesan bishops of the diocese as a medium for teaching, informing and staying in touch with the faithful. In the same way, it has provided an opportunity for the faithful to stay connected with the numerous events and news of parishes, institutions, communities and individuals throughout the diocese as well as highlight important moments in the life of our diocese.

Throughout its 50 years, the newspaper has and continues to serve as an important chronicle of the history of the diocese. After 50 years, we can say that it has itself become part of our history.

On behalf of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and particularly on behalf of all the bishops who have served the diocese in the past 50 years, I express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the South Texas Catholic on this the occasion of its Golden Anniversary.  

I thank especially the current editor Alfredo Cardenas and the current staff as well as all past editors, staff and benefactors who have worked tirelessly to maintain the presence of a Catholic diocesan publication for the Diocese of Corpus Christi.  The South Texas Catholic continues to fulfill faithfully its original mission of providing “authentic news and information from a Catholic viewpoint” and in this way helps to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ entrusted to all of us to “make disciples of all nations” teaching them to observe all that he has commanded us to do.

So as we celebrate its Golden Anniversary, we give thanks to God for the blessing of the South Texas Catholic that has served our diocese so well for the past 50 years. May it continue its important mission of making Christ known to all who may read it.  May it always help us bear witness to the presence of our lord Jesus Christ here in South Texas.