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Priest Administrative Day Connects Clergy and Laity
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April 26, 2023The entire staff and clergy for the Diocese of Corpus Christi gathered in the parish hall of St. Thomas the Apostle in Robstown for an administrative day on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to bring all the offices of the diocese together to see how each department serves the clergy and the laity. Bishop Michael Mulvey opened the event with a reflection on the Gospel of John 3:16-21.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.”
Bishop Mulvey felt that this passage reflected his intentions for the day’s gathering perfectly, as he believes the staff and clergy of the diocese should be working collaboratively to help bring people to the light. Following Bishop Mulvey’s reflection, Fr. Raju, acting as emcee, brought up CFO Misty Smith, to give a briefing on the diocese’s finances. She was followed by Lisa McKelvey, who spoke on Stewardship and Development. Director of Communications and Public Relations Katia Uriarte presented the various projects and goals of South Texas Catholic magazine, and Hilda Garza-Martinez informed everyone of the latest policies and procedures in the Office of Risk Management Services.
The members of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Daughters served a delicious lunch. Amidst the mashed potatoes, smoked steak, mushroom soup, and fluffy cake, not a single staff member went hungry. The Knights and the Daughters welcomed everyone with their cheerful willingness to serve.
A handful of other departments shared updates on what they have been creating and providing among the laity and to the clergy before the bishop gave his closing remarks and closing prayer, ending a successful meeting. “I was impressed,” said Dina Garcia of Stewardship and Development afterward. “The meeting was informative, and it was good to match pastors’ names to faces.” From the Office of Safe Environment, Stephanie Bonilla said that the meeting was a great opportunity to hear from coworkers and pastors and will contribute to her department's mission to protect families and priests.
Siobhan O’Connor, Director of Young Adult Ministry, felt that there was a spirit of constructive collaboration in the room and that the meeting created more unity with the priests and the diocese. “It’s important to hear from other departments and get their feedback on the reality of the parish.” She noted there was a sense of camaraderie between the priests and staff in the calm, fraternal environment. Fr. Joseph Lopez, pastor of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, also felt that it was important for the departments to gather and share information. “This allows us to have our questions on certain topics answered,” he said.