St. John Paul II High School alumna Marina Garcia, Class of 2012, completed a year of leading a nine-member team from all corners of the country in a mission to make the love of Christ known to the youth of the Church. The missionary work is sponsored by NET Ministries, located in St. Paul, Minnesota and is intended to engage youth and encourage them towards an active pursuit of their faith.
Bishop Michael Mulvey celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass May 26 at 1 p.m. for graduating seniors from Incarnate Word Academy and their families. Later that day, at 7 p.m., he did the same for St. John Paul II High School graduating seniors and their families. Featured speakers at Incarnate Word commencement ceremony were class salutatorian Sheridan Steen and valedictorian Michael Rock. Featured speakers at the St. John Paul II commencement ceremony were class salutatorian Camille McCutchon and valedictorian Erika Suniga.
Ah, summer. Vacation. While you are having fun during your travels, why not explore some aspect of our Catholic past? I created a list of suggested places to visit and included some important people you might want to look up. I concentrated on Texas sites and individuals for the checklist below that you can use if you are planning to travel only in Texas or as stopping off points on your way to your final destination. If your children might say boring—then consider letting them take turns being in charge of a fun activity that will enrich the historical visit.
The Diocese of Corpus Christi hosted its annual Staff Day of Reflection at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center and Chapel in Kingsville on May 11, with Father Patrick Martin serving as retreat master.
Registration is now open for the Pilgrim Center of Hope’s Catholic Women’s Conference happening July 28-29 at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. The annual conference, regarded as a “spa for the woman’s soul,” is a two-day event attracting thousands of women from across South and Central Texas, and is in its 16th year.
Father John Patterson, SOLT administered the sacrament of reconciliation to 10 students at St. Anthony of Padua in Robstown on Wednesday, April 19. Those making their first confession were Reihna Arias, Rylan Garcia, Jacob Garza, Jason Garza, Rena Gonzalez, Anabell Hernandez, Xavier Hinojosa, James Maldonado, Victoria Morales and Kaylyn Zuniga.
St. John Paul II High School Junior Shania Esquivel received the Semper-Fidelis All-American title on May 24 at an underclassman awards presentation in the school's Cafetorium. First lieutenant Michael Pagani and staff sergeant Kenneth Anthony of the United States Marines presented Shania with a framed invitation to join other outstanding students in Washington D.C. on July 13-17 at the Battles Won Academy. Many other freshmen, sophomore and junior students were also honored for their academic successes and community service this year.
On Memorial Day, May 29, a solemn Mass in honor of United States servicemen and women, living and dead, will be televised across North America on both EWTN and CatholicTV. The Memorial Mass will air on EWTN at 11:30 a.m. (EDST) and again twelve-and-a-half hours later at midnight (EDST). CatholicTV will carry the Memorial Mass at 12 and 8 p.m. (EDST).
Incarnate Word Academy held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Montessori building on May 22. The new Montessori building will be designed to fully orchestrate and enhance the Elementary Level’s Montessori curriculum.
The National Council of Catholic Women, founded March 4, 1920, will celebrate its 97th year of service to God and the Church at their annual Convention Sept. 6-9 in Dallas with the theme: Catholic Women: Living the Joy of the Gospel.
Students from St. John Paul II High School and Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School filled the bleachers at a groundbreaking ceremony dedicating the Bishop Edmund Carmody Field at St. John Paul II High School on May 12.
The Incarnate Word Academy Foundation hosted its fourteenth annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon for the Scholarship Recognition Society on April 27 to celebrate donors who have helped provide Catholic education to IWA students.
First Luminous Mystery: Baptism of Jesus Respond to each petition with two Hail Marys. We are all called to a life of holiness. Enlighten us and help us to realize the great adventure of Your call.
On May 7, Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 4, known as the 'sanctuary cities' bill, causing concern and disappointment among Catholic bishops. The bishops said they will continue to advocate for more just and comprehensive immigration laws, which include reunification of families and creating more just pathways to citizenship. Enforcement measures should have the goal of targeting dangerous criminals for incarceration and deportation, they said in a statement.
Bishop Michael Mulvey will celebrate a Mass to St. Florian in recognition of firefighters at 6 p.m. today at the Corpus Christi Cathedral. St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters and his Feast Day is celebrated on May 4, as is International Firefighter’s Day.
On Saturday night, April 29, parishioners of St. John the Evangelist church in Emory, Texas received the horrifying news that a tornado was heading in the direction of their church. Immediately, the parishioners found the safest spot they could – the hallway in between their parish hall and the main church.
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, Inc., spoke to a sold out crowd at the 29th Annual CHRISTUS Spohn Foundation Lyceum on Tuesday, April 25, at the American Bank Center.
by John Lennan, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to protect the unprotected, and that includes the elderly members of our communities. May is Elder Abuse Prevention Month in Texas, and it’s the perfect time to check on elderly friends and neighbors.