Diocese recognizes men and women in consecrated life

"The men and women in consecrated life have generously answered his call to ministry. They were not called to serve themselves, but to serve the Body of Christ,” Bishop Michael Mulvey said as he closed out the Year of Consecrated Life at a Mass on Sunday, Jan. 31, at Corpus Christi Cathedral.

“God initiates all vocations. God calls. It is in our power to say no, but it is God the Creator, the Supreme Being of all of us who plants in our life the vocation to follow him. Jesus says, ‘It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you’,” Bishop Mulvey said.

The bishop recognized eight sisters that were celebrating their jubilee this year. Observing 70 years in service to God were Sister Dorothy Anhaiser, IWBS and Sister Bertha Horning, SSpSAP. Fifty-year honorees included Sister Mary Rosemary Lichnovsky, IWBS, Sister Mary Ann Korczynski, IWBS, Mother Maria Elva Reyes, PCI and Sister Mary Carmen Sandoval, SOLT. Sister Mary Helen de la Paz, SOLT and Sister Mary Ann Virginia Navarro, SSpSAP observed 25 years in consecrated life.

“My sisters, you have committed yourselves to the Lord through professing the evangelical counsels of celibate chastity, poverty and obedience. On behalf of his Church, I thank you for your years of dedicated service,” Bishop Mulvey said to the jubilarians.

Bishop Mulvey invited all those in consecrated life present at the Mass to renew their commitment to follow Christ in consecrated life. He, in turn, called on the assembly to assure them “of our continued payers and support.”

The day before, on Saturday, Jan. 30, many sisters attended the annual day of reflection at St. Pius X Parish. Bishop Mulvey celebrated Mass and visited with sisters at the beginning and end of the day.

During his homily at the day of reflection, Bishop Mulvey encouraged sisters to re-consecrate themselves to Jesus Christ, “…everyday, but tomorrow especially. Put Jesus in the center of your life. Put his word as the book of light in your life,” he said.

Sister Karen Elliot of the Sisters of the Precious Blood from Dayton, Ohio led the sisters in reflection. Sister Karen teaches religious studies, medical ethics and mission and New Testament spirituality for health care professionals.

She began her morning talk by asking those present to join her in a prayer written by St. Teresa of Avila called, “Christ Has No Body”. In her talk she encouraged the sisters to be the hands, feet and eyes of Jesus.

A lot can be communicated in a touch, she said. “Don’t touch someone when you are angry, because they feel it,” she said.

She shared stories and pictures and explained to sisters they bring the reality that Christ is the central figure in their lives. “Christ is the emanating force of who we are,” she said.

Sister Karen Elliot of the Sisters of the Precious Blood from Dayton, Ohio led the sisters in reflection. Below, Sister Karen engages sisters on Day of Reflection at St. Pius X. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

“Theology is where we live and move and have our being in Christ. Theology is what we do. Theology is working at a homeless shelter; it’s working taking care of babies; it’s working helping the elderly; it’s taking someone to a doctor’s appointment; it’s the dignity that we treat the other likeness of God, which we call a human person.”

She recalled that her grandmother did a tea ministry. People would come to her with their problems and she would pour them tea and by simply holding their hand she would ease their burdens.

She also remembered her grandfather scolding her brother saying, “when it says in the Bible, ‘when I was hungry and you gave me something to eat and when I was thirsty you gave me something to drink’… it didn’t say anything about whether you deserved it or not.”

When Pope Francis declared 2015 to be the Year of Consecrated Life “I think he was saying ‘the Church needs you.’ The Holy Father called us to be grateful, hopeful… to reinvigorate, to lift up our spirits,” Sister Karen said.

At the Sunday Mass, Bishop Mulvey thanked the Serra Club of Corpus Christi for their attendance and efforts in assisting and praying for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. He also thanked Sister Annette Wagner who served as director of the diocesan Office of Consecrated Life at the start of the Year of Consecrated Life and Sister Gloria Rodriguez, MJMJ who presently serves as director of the office.

He thanked the sisters for a joyful evening of food and songs on the day of reflection. “You should’ve seen them last night we had mariachis and we made them sing. It was a very joyful,” he said.

(Alfredo E. Cardenas contributed to this article.)