Busy Students Retreat held at Newman Center in Kingsville

The Catholic Student Organization (CSO) at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) held a Busy Students Retreat at the newly built Newman Center and St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel in Kingsville from April 20-24.

The 27 college students who participated in the retreat met with a spiritual companion at a mutually agreed upon time for the purpose of “focusing on forming and growing each student’s personal prayer life,” Vocations Director for the Sisters of the Incarnate Blessed Sacrament, Sister Anna Marie Espinosa, IWBS said.

The students were given individual attention with assigned spiritual companions: two were from the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Sister Anna Marie being one and Sister Barbara Bluntzer, SP; two were from the Diocese of Brownsville, Sisters Leticia Benavides, MJ and Ninfa Garza, MJ from the Missionaries of Jesus; and one from the Diocese of Victoria, Sister Mildred Truchard, IWBS. Chaplain Father John Chavarria was available for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Campus Minister Nina Joiner said that the students want answers to things that happen to them. “Most of the time I spend with students is on spiritual guidance. It is ripe for vocations here at the university,” she said.

Father Chavarria is a very strong presence at St. Thomas Aquinas. “He comes in a half hour early every day before the 6 p.m. Mass to hear confessions and he is also available to students all day on Wednesday and Thursday,” Joiner said.

According to Joiner about eighty percent of the 65 students in the CSO are male and twenty percent are female. The students don’t all show up at the same meetings. They come when their schedules allow.

Joiner works closely with Jose Rodriguez who is general manager of Newman Hall. “Students don’t have to be Catholic to live in Newman Hall, but they do have to go through the center to get to their rooms,” Rodriguez said, –and when they do, they will be greeted by Father Chavarria on Wednesdays and Thursdays and Joiner, every day.

Joiner said she gets the word out about upcoming events by word of mouth, meetings and flyers. “When they come through the Newman Center I get a list of names with phone numbers,” she said.

“The 6 p.m. daily Mass is well attended and 17 students were recently confirmed in Corpus Christi Cathedral by Bishop Michael Mulvey,” Joiner said.

During lunch time on Thursday, day four of the retreat, the student center filled up fast. The Catholic center offers students a free meal once a week thanks to many volunteers and the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Foundation. Joiner handed out free books on Catholic spirituality to the students as they passed by her table.

Other events that have been held at the Newman Center were a Valentine’s Dance, an Awakenings Retreat, day retreats with Father Dan Estes, SOLT, and speakers like Father Charlie Banks, OMI from St. Mary’s Catholic Center in San Antonio.

On Wednesday, April 30 at 7 p.m. there will be an Awards Banquet, honoring outstanding altar servers and musicians. At the banquet they will also be recognizing old CSO officers and welcoming new ones.

“Catholicism is alive and well at St. Thomas,” Joiner said.