Bishop’s Guild newest focus is mission

Lisa McKelvey, the new director of the Office of Stewardship for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, welcomed attendees and introduced herself, outlining the purpose for restarting the Bishop’s Guild to 75 people who attended the reception and greeting at St. John Paul II Cafetorium on Jan. 26.

She said the goal of the night’s meet and greet "is a chance for the diocese to say thank you, meet and get to know each other and “to learn more about the diocese we’re living in, where we put in the work that has happened over the last several years and where we’re going.”

“Because of your gift, we have six seminarians preparing for ordination in service to our parishes across the diocese. Because of your gift, we have the South Texas Catholic magazine and many other communications initiatives that are supporting and sharing the good news, Jesus Christ, across the broader community,” she said. “Because of your gifts, our couples are going through marriage preparation, and families can grow and build a culture of discipleship in their domestic churches. Because of you, the church is thriving in the Coastal Bend.”

She explained what future membership in the Bishop’s Guild would entail. In the past, parishioners had to pay a fee to be a member of the Bishop’s Guild. “Not anymore,” McKelvey said. “Going forward, membership in the Bishop’s Guild is not going to be an extra membership fee or an extra anything. It’s going to be based on your total support of the diocese. Membership of the Bishop’s Guild will be those people and families who have committed to giving $500 a year to diocesan ministries. I want you to be able to give your gifts where you want to give them —to get the most impact.”  

The theme of the 2023 Bishop’s Stewardship Appeal is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” McKelvey said. “It really encapsulates our role in Stewardship. I thought it was a great phrase to help us focus on this first year as we relaunch all these initiatives. It helps us think about those in need and support ministries, not just our little parish, not just within our small local community —but in the diocese and our Catholic community worldwide.” 

The 2023 Bishop’s Stewardship Appeal goal is $1,600,000, and to date, the diocese has already received pledges and commitments for over $300,000.

Bishop Michael Mulvey talked about the present state of the diocese and future initiatives. 

Siobhan O’Connor, Director of the Young Adult ministry, appealed to the needs of young adults, and Vicar General Father James Stembler gave the opening prayer.