South Texas Catholic - November 2013 by South Texas Catholic

IWA places students at center of learning

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 1

2 5 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y

Diocese of Corpus Christi The New Evangelization January 11, 2014

Featuring Workshops on • • • • • • • • • • • •

Central Circles = The Church in 1900, 266.5 million Larger Circles = The Church today, 1.2 billion

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Family Life Vocations Stewardship Youth Ministry Communications Catholic Schools Hispanic Ministry Liturgical Music Liturgical Worship Young Adult Ministry Life, Justice & Human Dignity Evangelization & Catechesis Temas en Español Youth Track

(Source: Wall Street Journal)

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Peter Murphy Executive Director, USCCB, Secretariat for Evangelization & Catechesis

American Bank Center

Doors Open 7 a.m. | Mass 8:30 a.m. | Concludes 4 p.m.

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Please print and mail Registration Form below. Early Bird pricing is $25 per person until November 22. Regular Registration pricing is $30 per person until December 16. Tickets sold at the door will be $40 per person.

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For more information, please contact Nellie Serna at nserna@diocesecc.org, or at (361) 882-6191. You can SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013 also2register at www.diocesecc.org/ministryconference

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ON THE

VOL. 48 NO. 10 Publisher Most Rev. Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL DD Editor Alfredo E. Cárdenas ACardenas@diocesecc.org

COVER

Incarnate Word Academy’s Katelyn Blaine, working with the stripe board on the rug, is a student at the school’s elementary program that

uses the Montessori method of instruction. The instructional method attaches a premium for students to be at the center of their learning.

Contributed photo

Theological Consultant Father Joseph Lopez, JCL JLopez@diocesecc.org Associate Editor Mary E. Cottingham MCottingham@diocesecc.org Web Coordinator Julissa Hernandez JHernandez@diocesecc.org Administrative Assistant Adel Rivera ARivera@diocesecc.org Correspondents Rebecca Esparza, Valerie Cancino Timothy Hatch, Luisa Scolari, Robbie McGuinness If you or someone you know would like to receive the South Texas Catholic call us at (361) 882-6191 Office Address: 620 Lipan Corpus Christi TX 78401-2434 E-MAIL: stc@diocesecc.org www.southtexascatholic.com FAX: (361) 693-6701

Calendar Items Submit your announcements by using our Online form, e-mail, fax, mail, or drop it off at the Chancery office. Only announcements for the month of publication will be included in the print edition, if space permits. All other calendar items will appear on the magazine or diocese Web sites. The South Texas Catholic is not liable or in any way responsible for the content of any advertisement appearing within these pages. All claims, offers guarantees, statements, etc. made by advertisers are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Deceptive or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be made directly to the advertiser or to the Better Business Bureau. (USPSN 540-860) Published monthly by the Diocese of Corpus Christi for $25 per year. Periodical postage paid in Corpus Christi Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to South Texas Catholic 620 Lipan, Corpus Christi TX 78401-2434.

If you wish to read our Spanish language articles in English visit our Web site southtexascatholic.com and use the Google language translator. Si desea leer nuestros artículos escritos en Inglés en español, visite nuestro sitio web southtexascatholic.com y utilice el traductor de idiomas Google.

Keeping up with the Faith...

www.SouthTexasCatholic.com

A columbarium wall showing empty niches, plaques and flower holders. Columbariums and mausoleums are an acceptable option for entombing cremated remains, which are becoming more common.

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

VATICAN

Catholic, Baptist churches join choirs for Christmas concerts ��8

Pope thanks Knights of Columbus for prayers, solidarity �� 25

NEWS BRIEFS

PARISH LIFE

The Priests, Irish tenors will perform at Cathedral on Nov. 24 �� 11

St. Anthony will ring in centennial with refurbished bell �� 29

NATIONAL NEWS

HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE

Most Catholics aren’t searching for spirituality online �� 16

The homes of the bishops of Corpus Christi over the years, Part 2 �� 36

VIDA CATÓLICA

VIEWPOINTS

Santos son intermediarios a Dios y dan ejemplo de como vivir vida sagrada �� 17

Practicing due diligence when donating money to charitable foundations �� 41

VOCATIONS

OUR FAITH

Enrollment on the rise as St. Joseph Seminary College in Louisiana �� 20

Purgatory is not ‘a place’ but a journey by By Father Rodolfo Vasquez �� 42 NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 3

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Saints and souls in purgatory highlight November issue By Alfredo E. Cardenas

South Texas Catholic

he church dedicates the month of November to the souls in purgatory and we do the same with this issue. The month starts with the Solemnity of All Saints on Nov. 1, followed immediately by the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed or All Souls Day on Nov. 2. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the solemnity for all saints honors “all the saints, known and unknown, and, according to Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful’s celebration of saints’ feasts during the year.” As Luisa Scolari points out in our Spanish-language story (Page 17) on our favorite saints, too many of us forget or never knew our saint’s day. I’m afraid I plead guilty to that; it’s Alfred the Great, by the way—not a description of your lowly editor. Most of us, I fear, do not know much about the patron saints of our parishes. I grew up at St. Francis de Paula in San Diego and must confess until I Googled it recently I had no idea who he was. Learning about the saints in our lives strikes me as a good catechetical practice. For St. Anthony of Padua parishioners, we provide a brief biography of their patron saint on Page 29. The Catholic Encyclopedia also

provides insight into All Souls Day. “The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, alms, deeds and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass.” Father Rodolfo Vasquez explains that purgatory is not a place but a journey. “As we celebrate the day in which we commemorate those who have gone before us and await the eternal bliss of heaven, let us on this All Souls Day pray, fast and do penance for our beloved family and friends.” The issue of death is also discussed in Father J. Patrick Serna’s column on the death and burial of Jesus as well as in a story on the increasing use of cremation and the church’s views on this subject as well as Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey’s

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perspective on the Catholic Church’s views on cremation. Our cover story is on the Montessori method at one of our Catholic schools. Incarnate Word Academy—from its earliest days—has been a pioneer and has set the pace for educators in the diocese. St. Anthony of Padua in Robstown is readying for a year dominated by their centennial celebration. Father Tony Blount, SOLT and his parish developed an ambitious program to thank God for all He has done for them and to grow closer to Him. We also continue to celebrate the diocese’s centennial with a continuing article on the homes of the bishops that have served the diocese. Finally, as we enter the final months of the Year of Faith, we share with our readers some of the final events of this memorable year. The Year of Faith is coming to an end, but as Bishop Mulvey points out, our journey of faith continues.

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

A selection of urns are seen on display. While cremation is not prohibited unless it is chosen for reasons “contrary to Christian teaching,” the Catholic Church prefers that the body of a deceased person be buried in accord with church custom. Greg Tarczynski, Catholic News Service

MORE CATHOLICS CHOOSE CREMATION, but fewer understand church teaching By Alfredo E. Cardenas South Texas Catholic

n a recent survey conducted for the archdioceses of Newark, New York and Hartford, 71 percent of Catholics said they had no or only some knowledge on the Catholic church’s views on cremation in a Catholic funeral; this at a time when the use of cremation is growing significantly, both among the general population and Catholics. The Catholic Church lifted the ban on cremation in 1963, and since that time the practice has been on a steady rise. A study by the Funeral and Memorialization Information Council found that, “Over a 20-year period, those who report being likely to choose cremation for a loved one has increased by more than 50 percent.” Fifty five percent of those surveyed said they were likely to choose cremation. According to the most recent statistics from the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) “the cremation rate is increasing exponentially.” In the United States some 43.5

percent of all funerals involve cremation. In Texas, the figure is 35.6 percent and is expected to rise to 42.3 percent by 2017. CANA executive director Barbara Kermis said that 33 percent of Catholics choose cremation. Given these statistics, there appears to be a need for Catholics to have a clearer understanding of the church’s views on this issue. What is the Catholic Church’s stand on cremation? Simply stated, the church prefers a traditional burial of an intact body. “The church prefers that the bodies of the Christian faithful NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 5

“If a body is cremated...the same respect should be shown to the cremated remains as they are to the body, such as the cremated remains are to be buried in a sacred space; a blessed grave or mausoleum, some place where a person can be placed alongside his or her brothers and sisters in the faith. This is because we are the Body of Christ; we are a family of believers.” --- Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey who have died be buried in a sacred place, a blessed grave for example,” Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey said. “The reason for this first option is that the body is sacred. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, at the incarnation took on a body—a human body—therefore sanctifying all human bodies. “St. Paul also reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. It is through our bodies that we express ourselves in faith and service and it is in the body that we are recognized as God’s children. All of these reasons show sacredness of the body.”

The Code of Canon Law, Cannon 1176.3, says, “The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church points to one of the “reasons contrary to Christian doctrine” that would bar cremation. The Catechism states in paragraph 2301 that, “The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body.” Cremation by itself is not a denial of the resurrection, as St. Augustine points out, “Perish the thought that the omnipotence of the Creator is unable, for the raising of our bodies and for the restoring of them to life, to recall all [their] parts, which were consumed by beasts or by fire, or which disintegrated into dust or ashes, or were melted away into a fluid, or were evaporated away in vapors.” (The City of God 22:20:1) If not chosen for the wrong reasons, cremation is allowed by the church. But the church still requires that the sacred nature of the body, a creation of God, be honored. The “Order of Christian Funerals,” points out that, “… the body which

Outreach to victims and survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and/or church personnel Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey and the staff of the Diocese of Corpus Christi are committed to assisting in the healing process for victims and survivors of abuse. If you or someone you know is in need of such services, please call Stephanie Bonilla at the Office for Child and Youth Protection, (361) 693-6686 (office) or (361) 6588652 (cell) for immediate assistance.

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lies in death naturally recalls the personal story of faith, the cremations bury the remains in a cemetery. Only 15 percent loving family bonds, the friendships, and the words and acts of Catholics, according to the survey done for the Newark, of kindness of the deceased person… New York and Connecticut archdioceses, prefer cremated “The body of a deceased Catholic Christian is also the body remains be buried in a grave, mausoleum or columbarium. once washed in baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, The practices of scattering the remains or keeping them and fed with the Bread of Life. Thus, the Church’s reverence in a home are not the reverent disposition that the Catholic for the sacredness of the human body grows out of a reverence Church requires. Still, 24 percent of Catholics surveyed prefer and concern both natural and supernatural for the human to have cremated remains scattered and six percent want to person. The body of the deceased brings forcefully to mind keep the remains in their homes. the Church’s conviction that the human body is in Christ a “Cremated remains should always be honored and be kept temple of the Holy Spirit and is destined for future glory at intact. At times, Catholics hear of other people sending the resurrection of the dead.” (Order Of Christian Funerals, their ashes and spreading them on a property that person Appendix 2, “Cremaloved, being thrown tion,” 411-412.) out to sea, scattered “Honoring the on the ocean, etc. It Catholic Church body through Chrismay seem appealing to views on cremation: tian burial is an them in this lifetime, 1. Prefers a traditional burial of an intact body. antidote to the deshowever, since we 2. Does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for ecration of the body honor the body and we reasons contrary to Christian doctrine. that we see so often await the resurrection 3. Expects that the body be present at the funeral Mass of a in our society today, of the dead in bodily deceased. Bishop Mulvey said. form as well, the “The church does not ashes should remain 4. Requires that cremated remains be treated with the same respect given to the corporeal remains of the body. prohibit cremation. intact and not strewn The cremated remains should be entombed in a grave, There are certain cirover different places,” mausoleum or columbarium. cumstances that have Bishop Mulvey said. 5. Practices of scattering the remains or keeping them in a made it possible for “Nor should they be home are not the reverent disposition required. the church to allow kept at home on a cremation, but burial person’s mantle. It is is still preferred. If easy to have a plaque a body is cremated, however, the same respect should be or some other memorabilia to remember the person, such as shown to the cremated remains as they are to the body, such their picture. One reason that ashes should not be kept in the as the cremated remains are to be buried in a sacred space; home or in other public places is the possibility of theft. Also a blessed grave or mausoleum, some place where a person the dishonoring of the body that is sacred in various ways.” can be placed alongside his or her brothers and sisters in the Kremis said that most funeral home directors are aware of faith. This is because we are the Body of Christ; we are a the Catholic Church’s views on cremation and “meet with family of believers.” families to make arrangements in advance or at time of According to the Pastoral Manual of the Diocese of Corpus death and discuss all options, including preferred religious Christi, the church expects that the body be present at the ceremony.” funeral Mass of a deceased. If cremation has been chosen, Catholics should consult with their pastor before making the body should be cremated only after the funeral Mass. a final decision on whether cremation is an option they wish Under extraordinary circumstances the cremated remains to pursue in order that they fulfill the requirements of their may be present at the funeral Mass. faith in this important decision. “Having the body or cremated remains present during the “I have always found that cemeteries are places where we Mass is a powerful sign that we await the final resurrection can go and in a sense be with and honor our loved ones. In of the dead,” Bishop Mulvey said. that place we are present with all those who now share in the According to Kremis, only a third of the families that choose communion of saints,” Bishop Mulvey said.

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 7

Catholic, Baptist churches unite for

Christmas pageant

Cheri Shipman Contributor

oncept led to dialogue and dialogue unveiled kindred spirits impassioned by the same vision. The adult and children’s choirs of St. Gertrude Parish and First Baptist Church in Kingsville are uniting for four performances of “Christmas Is Coming,” a Christmas pageant about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Father James Stembler, pastor of St. Gertrude Parish in Kingsville, and Jack Willoughby, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Kingsville, are joining forces to celebrate Christmas pageant. Contributed Photo

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“What a great opportunity God has put before St. Gertrude Church and First Baptist Church to have both choirs work together on a Christmas Concert that will enable us to give thanks to God for the great gift of the Christ child,” Father James G. Stembler, pastor of St. Gertrude’s said. The first joint performance will be given at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at Casa Ricardo located at 200 W. Yoakum in Kingsville. St. Gertrude and First Baptist will each have December performances at the respective churches. “Being a convert myself, it is my hope that this will inspire all Christian traditions in Kingsville to do events together throughout the year so that we can come together and be one as Jesus and the Father are one,” Father Stembler said, who was baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush in Brooklyn, N.Y., raised in the Presbyterian Church and became a member of the Catholic Church at the University of Dallas Chapel. “This ecumenical, hand-in-hand, expression of Christian fellowship is a step in the right direction,” Jack Willoughby, pastor of the First Baptist Church Kingsville said. “Catholics

and Baptists with one voice with the high-energy exucelebrating the hope and healberance of the season in a “Chrismans is Coming” Performances ing of Jesus to a broken and 46-minute celebration. ◗ 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at Casa Ricardo, 200 W. divided world makes for a Gary Rhodes arranged new Yoakum, Kingsville convincing testimony of the Christmas favorites from ◗ 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at St. Gertrude’s Cathopower of Christmas.” Steven Curtis Chapman, Jason lic Church, 1120 S 8th St., Kingsville “I could not think of a better Gray and Chris Tomlin as well ◗ 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at First Baptist Church, 312 way to present Advent’s mesas keeping the beloved carols W. King Ave., Kingsville sage of hope, peace, love and for the audience to sing along. ◗ 10:45 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, at First Baptist joy than through the coming Deborah Craig-Claar has Church, 312 W. King Ave., Kingsville together of two unlikely woven the musical together groups,” said Willoughby, with a two-person narration who was born in Alabama but has spent most of his life in that weds a contemporary perspective with scripture. Texas. The adult and children’s choirs will be led by First BapBoth men agreed that there was no denying that God is up tist Church choir director Larry Purkey and St. Gertrude’s to something miraculous and “amazingly wonderful.” Rachel Bustamante. An orchestra made up of students and “This vision is now on its way to becoming a reality as faculty members from Texas A&M University—Kingsville our two churches determine to focus on our common love and musicians from both churches will accompany the pageant for Jesus,” Willoughby said. The community is invited to attend the performances at “Christmas Is Coming” combines the expression of worship either church.

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Contributed photo

Alice OLG parish receives award The International Catholic Stewardship Council selected Our Lady of Guadalupe in Alice as its recipient of the Parish Stewardship Commitment Renewal award for 2013. Father Julian Cabrera, pastor, received the award at the International Catholic Stewardship Conference held in Dallas in September. The parish’s renewal materials were judged on whether the parish had a comprehensive process for renewal, if the materials were clear and compelling communicating a clear stewardship message that would evoke a response from the parishioners and if all parish demographics were included in the process. “Your materials definitely reflect God’s active presence in your parish life and ministries and showed the commitment to stewardship as a way of life,” said Debra Leaverton, ICSC Chairman of Parish Stewardship Education Committee in a letter to Father Cabrera. The organization also awarded its Annual Appeal Video award to the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 2011 and 2012.

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Father Julian Cabrera is joined by parishioners, from left, Elda Olvera, Cookie Gutierrez, Rachel Munoz and Norma Falas in receiving national award.

Give online on No

hat does $10 buy in the Coastal Bend these days? A donation of $10 to the “Coastal Bend Day of Giving,” can provide diaper rash ointment and skin protectant for 30 abused and neglected children at The Ark Assessment Center and Emergency Shelter for Youth for four days; diapers for a homeless infant at Corpus Christi Hope House week for a; or laundry detergent for 30 homeless people to wash their clothes at the Mother Teresa Shelter. “The Coastal Bend Day of Giving is a chance for ordinary people to be philanthropists, giving everyone a way to contribute and help local friends and families in need,” Linda McKamie, executive director of Catholic Charities, said. On Nov. 12—for a 24-hour-period—online donations made to 30 local charities, including The Ark, Catholic Charities, Corpus Christi Hope House and Mother Teresa Shelter, will be matched and doubled, up to $13,335 per charity. Each nonprofit agency can raise more than $26,000. “Every dollar you give makes a difference in our community,” McKamie said. “If you give $10, it becomes $20; if you give $100, it becomes $200.” Sixteen local foundations have committed $400,000 to match donations, making twice the impact. Over the past four years, thanks to the generosity of these matching funders and Coastal Bend residents, almost $2.6 million was raised. “The Day of Giving has proved again and again that when a community comes together, amazing things take place,” McKamie said. “With last year’s donations, we assisted over 3,000 people—putting food on their tables, helping to prevent

NEWS BRIEFS

ov. 12 and double your donation evictions or providing bus passes to get to a new job. We are seeing changes in the lives of those who have received financial support and guidance.” Melissa Juarez, executive director of Corpus Christi Hope House, agreed. “In addition to much needed funding that allows us to help women escape homelessness, domestic violence and sexual abuse, we find that it has opened doors for community members who were not familiar with Hope House before,” she said. Delma Trejo, executive director of The Ark Assessment Center and Emergency Shelter, said, “We assist children who

are confused and frightened. Funding from the Day of Giving enables us to provide a safe place and to demonstrate to these innocent victims that even though they have been mistreated by their parents or guardians, there are people in this Coastal Bend community who are ready to treat them with dignity, love and respect.” With just a few keystrokes on www.coastalbenddayofgiving.org, people can select the charities to which they wish to donate and the amount of their gift. This Web site also provides information about this year’s nonprofit agencies receiving assistance and the major donors who will match donations.

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The Priests, Irish tenors in Concert Nov. 24 The Cathedral Concert Series 2013-14 presents The Priests, Irish Tenors in Concert on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Corpus Christi Cathedral. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. When The Priests released their first album in 2008, they had little inkling of what was about to happen to them; plenty did – huge record sales, record-breaking triumphs and global fame.

Now, four years later, Fathers Martin O’Hagan, Eugene O’Hagan and David Delargy are among the most recognized and successful acts in both the religious and secular worlds. Their debut album secured them a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-selling classical debut ever . They fascinated the global media and graced the pages of all manner of publications including Time Magazine, sharing sofa space with TV hosts the world over. They have sung to audiences that include the British royal family and the Irish president. They were nominated for Classical Brit Awards for Classical Album of the Year for three consecutive years and in September 2010, the Priests shared a stage with Pope Benedict XIV before a crowd of 80,000 people in London’s Hyde Park. Millions more watched on television. In 2011, they wanted to spend more time in their parishes. There were a sprinkling of concerts in Europe, and their Christmas With The Priests’ concerts in Ireland were a huge success. Towards the end of 2011, The Priests were approached by a screenwriter who asked if he could write the story of their musical lives with a view to it being a film. ‘Raising The Roof’ is currently in pre-production and is set for release late 2014. For more information call (361) 888-7444. NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 11

Year of Faith comes to a close Nov. 24

‘Journey of faith continues’ Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey will celebrate the closing of the Year of Faith with a Mass at the Corpus Christi Cathedral on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m. The Year of Faith was called by Pope Benedict XVI and was scheduled to end on the Feast of Christ the King. “We are concluding the Year of Faith at the end of November. We should remind ourselves however, that we are not concluding the ‘Journey of Faith,’” Bishop Mulvey said. “The journey of faith continues for each one of us. It is a journey of prayer, it is a journey of constant reflection and it is a journey that calls us to open ourselves to the will of God in everyday circumstances.” Parishes throughout the Diocese of Corpus Christi will have their own closing ceremonies. Below is a list of some remaining Year of Faith events scheduled throughout the diocese.

Distinguished speakers series

Dr. Brad Wilcox, a nationally recognized speaker from the University of Virginia, will make two presentations in the Diocese of Corpus Christi on the topics of fatherhood and marriage. The public is invited to both presentations. His first talk, entitled “Put a Ring on It: Why Marriage Makes all the Difference for Children, Adults, & Communities,” will be held at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles on Friday,

Dr. Brad Wilcox

Nov. 1 from 7- 9 p.m. His second presentation, “The Good Father: How Fatherhood Transforms Children and Men for the Better,” will be held at the same location the following day, Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m.-noon. St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles is located at 3901 Violet Road in Corpus Christi. The speakers series is sponsored by the Office of Life, Justice and Human Dignity in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Sacred music on All Saints Day

The Mozart Chamber Singers and Orchestra led by Dr. Ross Bernhardt, choral conductor, and Dr. Jose Flores, orchestra conductor, both from Texas A&M University– Corpus Christi will provide Sacred Music for the celebration of Mass on the Solemnity of All Saints on Nov. 1 at St. John the Baptist Church, located at 7522 Everhart, in Corpus Christi. The Mozart Chamber Singers and Orchestra will offer “Missa Brevis in G, KV 49” as composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Mass, which is open to the public, starts at 6:30 p.m.

Formation Bible study

As part of the Year of Faith, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Robstown has been holding a Faith Formation Bible Study on Sundays at 9:45 a.m. The study program runs through Nov. 30. For more information, call (361) 387-1312.

The Year of Faith is coming to a close but our faith must continue to grow Sister Lou Ella Hickman, IWBS

W Contributor

e are Catholic therefore we celebrate. For the past year we, the people of God, have celebrated what sustains us, and that is, faith. It is through faith that we can experience the reality we cannot ultimately understand, the mystery of God. A number of years ago Sister Alexa Suelzer, SP, spoke distractions can sidetrack us to the point, “Why bother?” in Corpus Christi. Part of her talk dealt with the miracles A life of faith can wither under the glare of disapin the Old Testament. One pointment when our personal comment concerned the expectations fail to meet God’s miracle we so often miss will. in the Scriptures as well It is striking that the Year as in our daily lives and of Faith ends on the feast of it is the miracle of faith. Christ the King with its Gospel Because of that mirareading of the stark portrayal cle, she said, the Jewish of Jesus’ crucifixion. His exepeople were able to see cutioners and those who have God’s presence in their came to watch as well as one lives. Salvation history of the convicts being crucified records their struggles along with Jesus, treated Jesus and even the abandonas a common criminal. Howment of their faith in God. ever, the convict on His other Yet God called them back side speaks up on His behalf time and again to an intiand in turn is given the prommate relationship with ise of paradise. Because this Himself. Humanity’s story’s desolate image is so struggle of faith not familiar; it has become blunted only gave rise to the for far too many people. great men and women of While it may be cliché to say the Bible but also of those the Year of Faith is not ending – Blessed John Paul II we call saints. but only beginning, it still We, too, often grapple needs to be said. Pope Francis with faith. Doubt can cloud the sense of God’s presence; calls us to see with the eyes of faith; he asks us to see

❝Hers was a daring faith… [because] at the Annunciation she believed in what was humanly impossible…Mary teaches Christians to live their faith as a demanding and engaging journey, which in every age and situation of life requires courage and constant perseverance.❞

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 13

Jesus in those who are not on society’s usual radar screen and respond accordingly. In the United States there are some 20 million people who are hungry and some 1 million people who are homeless. These brothers and sisters and others who suffer from joblessness, discrimination, illness, aging, abuse, etc. call our faith into action. Blessed John Paul wrote of Mary, “Hers was a daring faith…[because] at the Annunciation she believed in what was humanly impossible…Mary teaches Christians to live their faith as a demanding and engaging journey, which in every age and situation of life requires courage and constant perseverance.” Today, God calls each of us to follow her example. Statistics would have us believe it is humanly impossible to impact the enormity of need, but it can be done if we just begin with one person at a time. We must put our faith into action. You can put faith into action by donating to a charity that serves those in need, such as Catholic Charities, The Ark, Hope House and others. If your parish has a jail ministry, support it by supplying spiritual reading materials. Honor someone living or deceased by donating in his or her name. Even small donations given on a regular basis can do great good. Volunteering is another way to put your faith into action. There are many opportunities to help such as at the Mother Teresa Shelter, St. Vincent de Paul, your parish food pantry, visiting shut-ins and nursing homes and as a mentor or sponsor for the RCIA program. Simple encouragement is also a means of putting your faith into action. Encourage individuals to consider a religious vocation, write thank you letters to those who serve God’s people, thank at least one person a day, invite someone to go to Mass with you. Praying on a regular basis is an excellent way to show your gratitude for the gift of your faith. Pray for someone struggling with faith, for those who have lost their faith and for parents who hand on the faith. Make a Holy Hour once a week or attend a retreat. Finally, study is also an excellent means of growing in faith. Join a parish Bible study class. If your parish does not have one, ask your pastor to invite someone to teach a class in your parish. Read a book on the lives of the saints or theology. When sharing your faith becomes a habit, the celebration of faith will indeed continue and, in the process, faith will unfold one of its best-kept secrets—joy.

14 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

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Help Us Prevent Financial Abuse The Diocese of Corpus Christi at the recommendation of the Diocesan Financial Council and Presbyteral Council have furthered their commitment to good stewardship and nancial accountability on behalf of generous donors by instituting a nancial abuse hotline. The Diocese of Corpus Christi has selected an independent third party, The Network, to provide you with a new way to anonymously and condently report nancial abuse and fraud. Employees, parishioners, volunteers, vendors and other interested parties will be encouraged to report concerns they have regarding nancial misconduct within the Diocese of Corpus Christi. All inquiries will be treated promptly and discreetly. Callers will have the right to remain anonymous. Call 1-877-571-9748

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Most Catholics aren’t searching for spirituality 0nline

NATIONAL NEWS

By Carol Zimmermann

Catholic News Service

ost U.S. Catholics are not looking for spirituality online, in fact, half of them are unaware the church even has an online presence, according to researchers at Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. The most widely used communication tool in Catholic Church is the parish bulletin, followed by a diocesan newspaper or magazine—in print form—which one in four adult Catholics have read in the past three months, CARA reports. Narrowing the focus on Catholics who attend Mass each week, CARA said 13 percent of them read Catholic blogs and 17 percent view religious material on YouTube. These findings and other trends among U.S. Catholics were presented Oct. 10 by CARA’s Melissa Cidade, director of pastoral assistance surveys and services, and Mark Gray, director of Catholic polls, to a group of editors in Washington attending a Catholic Press Association/Catholic News Service Liaison Committee meeting. CARA’s communication findings were of particular interest to the group. Robert DeFrancesco, CPA president and editor and associate publisher of The Catholic Sun, newspaper of the Phoenix Diocese,

said the study affirms the good work the Catholic press is doing and also highlights the work they still have cut out for them in balancing print and online efforts. He said it reveals how “younger Catholics are not clamoring for news online,” which could be particularly disheartening to Catholic journalists who focus on their online product, but also needs to be balanced with the finding that one in four Catholics overall have read a diocesan paper recently—primarily in print—and eight in 10 readers described these papers as good or excellent. The fact that print versions of diocesan papers still reach so many Catholics is something to think about, he noted, especially with the limited resources of many diocesan newspapers. In discussion about the CARA findings, participants highlighted the need to continue to find new ways to tell the story of today’s church and connect with readers. They said one key way to do this

16 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

was through continuing to emphasize the words and actions of Pope Francis who has appealed to so many. CARA studies on parish life revealed that parish closings across the country have been regionalized. For example, they are closing in the Northeast but growing in the West. Currently there is a 1:1 active ratio of active diocesan priests to parishes and the median age of U.S. Catholics is 53. One key finding CARA researchers noted was a decrease in number of baptisms, weddings and funerals in the Catholic Church in recent years. They also discussed the multicultural diversity in the church, highlighting aspects of a recent study commissioned by the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. CARA estimates there are approximately 6,700 multicultural parishes of the more than 17,400 U.S. parishes and three in 10 parishes celebrate at least one Mass a month in a language other than English or Latin. The study also notes that about 29.7 million U.S. residents who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino are estimated to be Catholic, representing about 59 percent of this population in the United States. To see more National News go to:

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Santos son intermediarios a Dios y dan ejemplos de cómo vivir una vida sagrada Por Luisa Scolari Corresponsal

Stacey y Denise Smith y Dora Sandoval demuestran artículos sobre santos disponibles en su tienda, The Love Note, Catholic & Christian Gifts. Luisa Scolari para el South Texas Catholic

l próximo año, la Iglesia Católica tendrá un acontecimiento histórico, ya que el Papa Francisco canonizará como santos dos de su predecesores el mismo día: el Papa Juan Pablo II y Papa Juan XXIII. Este día histórico será el 27 de Abril del 2014. Juan Pablo II se le recuerda como el Papa viajero, ya que fue el Papa que más viajó, el que a más santos canonizó y el que más rápido alcanzó el mayor reconocimiento póstumo que otorga la Iglesia Católica, cumpliendo todos los pasos que marca el reglamento. Juan XXIII es reconocido como “el Papa bueno” y fue el que le dio a la iglesia el Segundo Concilio Vaticano, el precursor para la Nueva Evangelización. Será una ceremonia solemne en la Plaza de San Pedro en donde se espera que asistan miles de Católicos de todas partes

de el mundo. La iglesia celebra el Día de los Santos el primero de noviembre. ¿Cuáles son los santos más venerados de nuestra diócesis? Hay unos santos mas populares que otros, a quienes se atribuyen milagros ocurridos por su intercesión, y hasta son catalogados por su “especialidad.” Las señoras Stacey y Denise Smith y la señora Dora Sandoval, quienes trabajan en una tienda de la localidad en donde se venden imágenes religiosas, nos comentan NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 17

Varias cadenas de supermercados, en su estantes cuentan con una gran variedad de veladoras con diferentes Santos. Luisa Scolari para el South Texas Catholic

que la más solicitada es la de San Miguel Arcángel para protección. Después la de San Peregrino, para pedir por los pacientes con cáncer; San Judas Tadeo, patrono de las causas imposibles; San Gerardo para solicitar un embarazo; San Benito para la protección del hogar; San José carpintero para fortaleza de los padres de familia y para vender una casa; San Pancracio para encontrar un buen trabajo; San Antonio para encontrar buen matrimonio; Santa Teresita patrona de las misiones; San Francisco de Asís patrono de los ecologistas; San Lucas patrono de médicos y artistas; y la lista sigue y es tan larga y extensa como el santoral de nuestros almanaques y calendarios. Un santo muy venerado en la diócesis de Corpus Christi y por todo el suroeste Americano es San Toribio Romo, mártir mexicano. A él se encomiendan los migrantes en sus viajes, pues a él se le pide protección para el camino y llegar a buen destino, y son muchas las historias que se cuentan de milagros realizados por este santo, ayudando a los migrantes perdidos y a punto de morir en los desiertos de el sur de California, Sonora y Texas. Debemos tener bien claro y no confundir que a los santos solo se les venera, es decir, se les pide su intercesión ante Dios nuestro Señor, y la adoración se rinde única y exclusivamente a Dios. Muchas ciudades en América que fueron fundadas por los misioneros durante la época de la conquista, eran consagradas a un santo patrón de el pueblo, y su imagen

18 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

se ponía en la iglesia o catedral, dando esto origen a las festividades de las fiestas patronales, en donde los festejos comienzan con la celebración de una gran misa solemne, seguida de la peregrinación del Santo patrón de el pueblo, fuegos artificiales, seguidos de la fiesta con abundante música y comida. El 5 de Julio, el Papa Francisco invitó al Papa Benedicto XVI a la consagración de la ciudad de el Vaticano a San José y al Arcángel San Miguel.

Padre Henry Artunduaga, párroco de Nuestra Señora de San Juan de Los Lagos, Madre de la Iglesa, bendice animales en la fiesta de San Francisco de Asís, uno de los santos más conocidos. Luisa Scolari para el South Texas Catholic

Es costumbre en los países hispanos, que periódicos, noticieros diferentes Santos. y programas de televisión, den inicio con el “santoral” de el día, Católicos no deben de olvidar el llamado que hace el Papa es decir, felicitan a las personas que llevan por nombre el de Francisco a vivir la santidad. “La Iglesia que es santa, no rechaza el santo que se conmemora esa fecha. a los pecadores; los acoge y está abierta Si desea leer nuestros artículos escritos Y se acostumbra felicitar ese día a las también a los más lejanos, llama a todos en Inglés en español, visite nuestro sitio personas que lleven su nombre. También a dejarse envolver por la misericordia, la web southtexascatholic.com y utilice el hay familias que acostumbran poner por ternura y el perdón de el Padre que da a traductor de idiomas Google. nombre al bebé el de el santo de el día todos la posibilidad de encontrarlo, de en que nacen, o cuando lo encomendacaminar hacia la santidad,” dijo el Papa ban a un santo le ponían su nombre en Francisco. Los invita a vivir la santisu honor. dad en nuestro entorno, no es necesario Una costumbre que se ha ido perdiendo en las familias, era que recluirnos en un monasterio para santificarnos cuando podemos la madre o la abuelita tenían la cartita de la oración o la novena hacerlo en nuestro hogar, escuela o centros de trabajo cuando en alguna mesita o tocador para rezarle al santo de su devoción y elevamos y ofrecemos obras para glorificar a El Señor. le prendían una veladora. Sin embargo, esta tradición parece que Son devotos de algún santo? Saben cuándo se celebra el día se niega a desaparecer, pues varias cadenas de supermercados, de su santo? Llevan su nombre y acaso aunque sea por curiosien su estantes cuentan con una gran variedad de veladoras con dad, han tomado el tiempo de conocer su vida y sus obras?

Ayudenos a Prevenir el Abuso Financiero La Diócesis de Corpus Christi por medio de la recomendación del Concilio Diocesano de Finanzas y el Concilio Presbiteral han llevado su dedicación mas allá para la buena administración y responsabilidad nanciera en nombre de donantes generosos al instituir un “hotline” para reportar el abuso nanciero. La Diócesis de Corpus Christi ha seleccionado un tercer partido independiente, La Red, para proporcionarle a usted con una manera para reportar anónima y condencialmente el abuso nanciero e fraude. Los empleados, los parroquianos, los voluntarios, los vendedores, y otros partidos interesados estan impulsados para reportar las preocupaciones que tengan respeto a la conducta de påca ética nanciera dentro de la Diócese de Corpus Christi. Todas las investigaciones serán tradas inmediatamente y discretamente. Personas que llamen tienen el derecho de mantenerse anónimas.

Llamada 1-877-571-9748

Alcance a las víctimas y sobrevivientes de abuso sexual por el clero y / o personal de la iglesia Obispo Wm. Michael Mulvey y el personal de la Diócesis de Corpus Christi se ha comprometido a ayudar en el proceso de curación de las víctimas y sobrevivientes de abuso sexual. Si usted o alguien que usted conoce está en la necesidad de dichos servicios, por favor llame a Stephanie Bonilla ante la Ocina de Protección de Niños y Jóvenes, (361) 693-6686 (ocina), (361) 658-8652 (celular). NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 19

Enrollment on the rise at Sai By Vanessa Crouere

W Contributor

hen Saint Joseph Seminary College began a new school year in the fall of 1978, the student body included some 120 seminarians.

Then, with the beginning of the next school year in 1979, the enrollment dropped to 111. The years that followed saw a continued decline, an experience shared by most seminaries in the United States. So when classes began on Aug. 26 with an enrollment of 121 students after a 35-year decline, it was a notable cause of joy and thanksgiving. The last

20 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

three years had brought increases, but none as noteworthy as this. Still, the increase was not without its complications. Among the students are four from the Diocese of Corpus Christi—Oscar Chaparro, Richard Gutierrez, Charles Silvas and Marc Joseph Zamora. Although the seminary college was already in

VOCATIONS

int Joseph Seminary College the process of renovating in order to provide living space for more seminarians, the larger number this year took all by surprise. “When the school year began last year we had to ask the monks to house 18 seminarians in the monastery until temporary living space was ready,” Father Gregory Boquet, OSB, President-Rector, said. “Little did we suspect that this year would find us asking the same thing; but it is a problem I’m glad to have.” Some differences exist, however, between the seminary enrollment of the present and that of 35-years ago. Then the majority of the seminarians were from

the dioceses of Louisiana. Now, St. Joseph’s draws students from 20 dioceses. Among the fifty-seven new students are 36 seminarians from Texas, seven from Georgia, eight from Mississippi, eight from Alabama and one student studying for Saint Joseph Abbey. Another difference is one that has been developing over the past years. This is the number of students who are entering after having had some college experience. Only 16 new students are entering college for the first time, while 35 have had one or two years of college. Six are in pre-theology studies, having already received a Bachelor’s degree.

Record number of seminarians enrolled at St. Joseph Seminary in Louisiana. Contributed photo

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 21

Corpus Christi seminarian Richard Gutierrez (at left) serves as the thurifer during proclamation of the Gospel at St. Joseph Seminary. Contributed photo

In the mid 1970s, the seminary college began a program in English as a Second Language to accommodate the large number of Vietnamese-speaking students. As overall enrollment decreased, so did the number of students in this program. This year the English as a Second Language program has

also seen a rise in numbers, but now the difference is that the majority of students enrolled are native Spanish-speakers. “We are grateful to God for this increase of ‘laborers into the vineyard,’ and pray that it continues” Father Boquet said. “May their years here at St. Joseph Seminary College prepare these men to be good servants for God’s people.”

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Louis and Zélie Martin:

promoting vocations in those close to us By Father Joseph Lopez, JCL Contributor

hat is the best way to promote vocations? Is it by directly talking with specific young people? Is it by handing out pamphlets and books? Or maybe by helping young people have a conversion experience at a high-powered retreat or Youth Spectacular? Certainly, each of these ways can effectively touch young people and persuade them to consider giving their lives to God. We’re zealous to make a difference in the church by helping bring young people to realize their vocation, which is definitely an excellent desire. But vocations are realized and followed, even without many of the things we might think are “essential” to vocations work. So, what is essential? Maybe a look at some preeminent examples of successful vocation promoters is the best way to learn; after all, they did it well and have something to teach us. Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin were the parents of nine children, though only five daughters survived early childhood. All five daughters went on to become religious sisters, the most well known being St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Though it may be tempting to dismiss the example of these heroic parents as “pie in the sky,” those who have studied their lives know that they are brilliant examples for modern parents, teachers, mentors or anyone who has influence in the lives of young people. They were down-to-earth people who experienced the same struggles in life as all of us—and possibly more than many. Louis and Zélie Martin were both devoted

Catholics who put God first in everything, from their families and work to their social lives. They both ran successful, if demanding, small businesses—Louis was a watchmaker and jeweler and Zélie was maker of fine lace. They loved their children dearly and maintained a very close family life. Prayer and the sacraments were of great importance; the family prayed and read scripture together daily, and the older children often accompanied their parents to daily Mass. St. Thérèse remembers wanting to receive Our Lord in Holy Communion at an early age because she wanted to be united to Him. What excellent work her parents did to help their children know God at the earliest ages. Because of their devotion to God and the church, the Martins made frequent donations to the local convents. Louis loved to fish, and he would often give his catch to the sisters, delivering it personally with one or more of his daughters. On these visits, the sisters would spend time with the family, which helped to stir up the desire for religious life in the Martin girls. The “vocations work” of Louis and Zélie can be summed up simply as devout Christian living. We see very little in their lives of active promotion of the religious life—and yet all five daughters went on to become religious sisters. It appears that they had very little need to “talk up” vocations with their

Father Joseph Lopez, JCL, is Vocations Director for the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 23

Pope thanks Knigh By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

St. Thérèse remembers wanting to receive Our Lord in Holy Communion at an early age because she wanted to be united to Him.

children, as their lived faith and frequent contact with religious sisters provided enough impetus. What does this mean for us? First, we have to put things into context. Our times are certainly different, and the visibility of religious and priests in public life is not nearly as prominent as it was in late 19th century France. Also, though public faith had been largely destroyed by the French revolutions earlier in the century, most people probably had a much closer familiarity with the church than many of our young people do today. But these things don’t change the fact that, for the Martin sisters and every Catholic youth, one of the best means of promoting vocations is to have good relationships with people who live our Catholic faith devoutly, especially providing an example of prayer and good works. This is one of the most essential elements for good discernment— and it is much easier to attract youth to give themselves to God’s service by example than by “talking up” vocations. Certainly, many means are useful and effective for promoting vocations, even if they may not be essential. But it’s a simple fact that the majority of religious and priests say that a very strong factor in their discernment was the good example of faithful Catholics living out their own vocations. In our own life, how can we live joyful faith and service to God more, so that we can be the example our young people need to encourage them to live the vocations to which God is calling them?

24 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

ope Francis thanked the Knights of Columbus for being in solidarity with him, something he said is seen not only in the money they give for his charities, but also in their prayers, sacrifices and charitable activities. “May prayer, witness to the faith and concern for our brothers and sisters in need always be the pillars supporting your work, both individually and corporately,” the pope said Oct. 10 during a meeting with 80 officers and members of the board of directors of the Knights of Columbus. Before meeting with and addressing the group, Pope Francis met privately with Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, who serves on a number of Vatican-related bodies, including the board of supervisors of the Vatican bank. The U.S.-based Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, has about 1.8 million members in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. Pope Francis thanked the Knights for their Vicarius Christi Fund, which they established in 1981; the annual earnings on

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the fund are donated to the pope for his personal charities. He also encouraged them to “continue to seek new ways of being a leaven of the Gospel and a force for the spiritual renewal of society.” The pope ended his audience with the Knights by entrusting Come to Rome for the Canonization of Blessed Pope John Paul II See Our Beloved Pope Francis

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Montessori places children a By Valerie Cancino

Correspondent

aria Montessori’s ap p ro a ch to education was to never help children do something that they can do by themselves. That is where the sense of competency comes from for a student in being able to learn or achieve something that they have initiated. Her philosophy and methods of education gave rise to an approach for teaching young people that bares her name—the Montessori method. It places a child at the center of their learning. It is developmental, meaning that the main task of a Montessori teacher is to prepare the classroom environment that will help the child develop. The Montessori program at Incarnate Word can be traced back to three women in particular; Jean Adams, Ellen Flood and Irene Maeney. It was through the encouragement of these women that the Sisters of The Incarnate Word added an elementary level Montessori program, which was the first of its kind in Corpus Christi and remains as the only

Montessori program in Corpus Christi that currently includes the first through fifth grades. The school has classes that consist of children of three-years of age all the way to the fifth grade. There are three age groups collectively in one classroom and each child within this learning community is placed where they need to be as

26 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

far as their learning stages. For example three-year olds might be ready to start building words so they are put in a position to do so. Other children of the same age might be in the early stages of putting together sounds and letters so they are provided with an activity to teach that skill. As each child advances so do the lessons and activities.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION

at the center of their learning

Sister Mary Stanislaus, IWBS, with her Montessori and Kindergarten class at Incarnate Word Academy from 1965-66.

The main task of a Montessori teacher is to have this three-year span of curriculum ready and available in a system that is both organized and aesthetically pleasing to the child. Teachers in a Montessori school must be ready to follow the children, let them lead the instruction, or take the initiative as far as their learning is concerned. When the child is ready

they will initiate a piece of work. The teacher will then offer a presentation and the child will repeat the exercise demonstrated in that presentation until they have mastered the skill. Montessori teachers do not necessarily have a lesson plan but they do have all their lessons collectively prepared for the year. At any point in a time all the

lessons must be out and available and the teacher must be prepared to demonstrate those lessons. Cultural lessons—such as history, geography, botany and geometry—are developed for the year. Math and language are subjects in which the teacher must follow the child and meet them where they are in that subject. A typical classroom can be filled with anywhere from 19 to 25 children with 25 being the maximum amount per class. The basic idea is if there are 20 children in a classroom there are 20 different lesson plans to follow. This is what distinguishes a Montessori environment from other forms of education. It is a challenging feat for some to become a Montessori teacher because they have to be prepared not to follow a daily lesson but to follow a child in their learning process. Teachers have to be ready to give any particular lesson when a child asks or when they observe that a child is ready for that lesson. Teachers must have a Montessori credential to be able to teach in a Montessori environment. It is a long rigorous process. It requires close to 2,000 hours of work. Houston Montessori training center is the closest training center for the Coastal Bend area. Most teachers will attend for two summers to get training for the different subject areas. For the length of one year they must conduct a research project in which they create new material and present it. The second summer the teacher will go for oral training in which they have to present lessons in front of a Montessori panel. Children, grouped in each classroom

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 27

IWA preschool students, from left, Landon Anthony, Richards Atkins and Kelley Cruger work with the Trinomial and Binomial Cubes, which are a concrete representation of the algebraic formula (a+b+c)³. The cubes and prisms represent the factors of the equation. Contributed photo

by three ages, stay in the same classroom community and are with the same teacher for three years. This also helps in the development of the child as the younger children learn from the older children in the classroom. They interact with each other and learn from each other in this way. It empowers the older children as they are able to offer help. They develop social skills that they might not learn in a typical early childhood environment. This also helps children achieve a certain academic mastery, as they cannot teach what they themselves do not know. So as a third of the class advances out a new group of children comes in keeping the learning environment in a forward motion. It becomes a very tightly knit learning community. It is a very interesting process to see at work. When one goes into a traditional classroom setting they see rows of desks with the teacher at the front of the class. They will teach a lesson and deliver instruction. In a Montessori environment the child is initiating the work. When students have that freedom

28 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

of choice they are exercising not only their academic skill but they are also exercising their free will. Children are always in that work cycle developing a functioning work ethic. The child will choose an assignment based on interest. This is a practical life skill, which is building on top of the academic skill. The child becomes a doer and learns about time management. By learning to take the initiative in their education students learn to apply these skills to everyday life. Incarnate Word Academy is an environment that is about helping the child be independent while also helping the common good, ‎Montessori director Blanca Cummins said. Teachers at Incarnate Word talk a lot about the common good. They do not give gold stars as rewards but instead offer something in the way of helping their community. A reward might be something as simple as adding a stone to the stone yard on the premises. It is more than just for the benefit of one child it is a way of improving the community through these children.

St. Anthony will ring in centennial with refurbished bell By Alfredo E. Cardenas

South Texas Catholic

s midnight strikes on Dec. 31, parishioners at St. Anthony of Padua in Robstown will literally ring in the New Year—and the start of their Centennial Celebration. They will do so with their newly refurbished church bell that has not chimed in a generation.

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 29

Bishop Mariano Garriga blesses bell at St. Anthony’s in 1953. The bell has been restored and will beckon parishioners to Mass once again. Contributed photo

Centenarian Maria Quintana Silguero, a lifelong parishioner, will have the honor to take the first ring and she will be followed by 99 other parishioners to mark the 100 years of the parish’s existence as a faith community. The ringing of the bell was not an easy task, since contractors had to remove a ton of pigeon droppings before they could repair the bell that was first installed in 1953 as part of a new church dedicated and blessed by Bishop Mariano Garriga. The restoration of the bell is only one aspect of an ambitious program developed by Father Tony Blount, SOLT, pastor at St. Anthony’s, to celebrate the parish’s first 100 years and launch its second 100

Father Tony Blount, Solt Pastor of St. Anthony Church in Robstown

years. The Centennial Committee composed of Mary Espinoza, Johnny Guerra, Eddie Mireles, Mary Ramón, Marcos Ybarra, Carla García and Elva Ybarra is leading the effort. Today, St. Anthony’s is a vibrant faith community of 800 families but it was not always so. In the early years of the

30 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

Diocese of Corpus Christi, Bishop Paul Nussbaum, CP sent Passionist missionaries to grow the faith in his new diocese and they were met with resistance. The bishop sent Father Camillus Hollobough, CP to conduct missions in the eastern part of the diocese. When he arrived in Robstown he found only one “American” Catholic and was met with threats. Even after, St. Anthony’s had been organized and was growing, Bishop Nussbaum observed that “Fr. [Leonard Cunningham] has persevered in that little mission right through some most trying years…the sisters too have endured great hardship.” Despite these hardships, the “little mission” grew and became established

PARISH LIFE quickly. This growth was actively supported financially by The Catholic Church Extension Society, which was headed by Msgr. Emmanuel Ledvina who would become the diocese’s second bishop. In July 1915, the society approved a request from Father Cunningham, St. Anthony’s first pastor, for $1,000—twice the amount the society usually awarded. The gift was made possible by a donation from a retired Illinois priest. By 1918, St. Anthony’s had a school with an enrollment of 45 run by the Sisters of the Institute of the Purity of the Immaculate Virgin. It also had three missions: Most Precious Blood at Calallen; St. Gregory at Gregory; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Portland. With continued support from the Extension Society for the school and teacher salaries, St. Anthony’s had become an anchor in the Robstown community. The school closed in 1920 but reopened in 1924 with the Sisters of the Incarnate Word now in charge. It continues today under the guidance of the Religious Missionaries of St. Dominic. In 1925, the original church that had also doubled as a school was replaced with a new sanctuary. That church was replaced 28 years later in 1953 with the current structure under the direction of Father Kevin Dunne. The street in front of St. Anthony’s is now named after Father Dunne. “The purpose of our centennial is to give glory to God for all He’s done for us during the last 100 years in this parish. That’s the first point. The second is to draw everyone closer to Him,” Father Blount said. Everything that is being done for the centennial is aimed toward giving thanks and bringing people closer to God. The restoration and ringing of the bell is a reminder to the church of God’s presence. The same is true of all the other centennial

St. Anthony of Padua 1195-1231 A.D. St. Anthony of Padua is one of the best known disciples of St. Francis of Assisi. He was an accomplished preacher and worked many miracles while he was alive. Ever since his death 800 years ago, miracles have been attributed to his intercession. He always followed the call of St. Francis to constantly engage in prayer. After a long day of preaching and hearing confessions, he spent many hours during the night in deep conversation with his Creator. He died on June 13, 1231, at the young age of 36. The year after his death, Pope Gregory IX declared him a saint. Countless miracles have been attributed to St. Anthony’s intercession since, even today. These continuous miracles have earned him the name of Wonder-worker. In 1946, Pope Pius XII declared St. Anthony a Doctor of the Church.

activities, Father Blount said. Another project that will draw people close to God is “The Book.” This is a combination parish directory and history of the parish. Already, 340 families have signed up to be included in the pictorial directory. On Feb. 22, 2014, St. Anthony’s will host a Centennial Banquet where all previous pastors and Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey will be in attendance. Photos of all deceased pastors will also be featured. This year’s Lenten Mission will also be dedicated to the Centennial. Father

Blount’s brother, Father Jim Blount, SOLT will present the mission from March 31, through April 4, 2014. The following day, April 5, 2014, acclaimed Christian singer Matt Maher will perform a Lenten concert at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. Yet other spiritual events include 100 hours of adoration for 100 years as a faith community; restarting Tuesday devotions to St. Anthony; and reciting the prayer to St. Anthony at every Mass. Bishop Mulvey will return on June 15, 2014 for the “official celebration” for the Feast of St. Anthony. The bishop will celebrate the noon Mass. The parish will undertake a number of other projects during the centennial year. Its social service organization will reach out to everyone with “good news.” The group’s Main Street storefront provides food to the needy as well as diabetic assistance. The parish also operates the St. Anthony Thrift Store that provides clothing to the poor. Providing programs for the parish youth is also on the agenda. Among the projects intended to “build up” the youth is hosting a Mini Youth Spectacular in 2014. Taking care of deceased parishioners is also on the Centennial program agenda. Both the old and new St. Anthony’s Cemeteries are full and plans are underway to open another cemetery area with as many as 400 burial plots. Father Blount hopes to sell 100 plots in 2014 that will help finance the remainder of the development. Entreating St. Anthony, parishioners pray, “I implore of you to obtain for me the favor that I seek, the complete spiritual renewal of St. Anthony Parish. The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the Saint of Miracles.”

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 31

Rosary Fest brought many to small parish dedicated to the Blessed Mother Mary Cottingham

South Texas Catholic

wenty parishes answered the call to pray and celebrate the Month of the Rosary at the inaugural Rosary Fest held at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Corpus Christi on Oct. 7. There were several reasons for hosting the Rosary Fest at Our Lady of the Rosary for which the church was named, but Father Gabriel P. Coelho said that primarily “it was to honor the Blessed Mother, thank her and ask for more blessings.” Father Coelho, pastor to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, said his church, which is located on the auspiciously named Main Drive but is actually in an inconspicuous area of Tuloso-Midway, which needs more exposure. “Over all, I would think that from this celebration a message may be clear that our church needs expansion and growth in the future,” Father Coelho said.

In preparation for the Rosary Fest this statue of the Blessed Mother was moved from outside to the inside of Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Committee members decorated the backdrop and arranged candles and flowers around the statue and a petition box was placed on the second tier for special prayer intentions throughout the day.

32 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

Some of the Rosary Fest committee members pose during one of six meetings held to plan the event. Committee members provided refreshments and meals for visiting prayer groups throughout the day. Father Gabriel Coelho, Contributor

The Rosary Fest committee members, spearheaded by Juanita Escobar, provided meals, refreshments and fellowship in the parish hall for all the visiting groups of parishioners from Alice, Aransas Pass, Beeville, Corpus Christi, Mathis, Odem, Robstown, Sinton and Vattman. The committee planned every detail of the event. The Blessed Mother statue was moved from outside the church and placed in a concaved wall to the right of the altar. Lights illuminated the backdrop where the Blessed Mother stood holding the child Jesus and a white translucent fabric was draped in front of the lights. At the Blessed Mother’s feet were two red glass candleholders lit on either side of her. Pink and red roses were placed on the altar and on the three steps leading to the statue of Mary and Jesus. A petition box was placed on the second tier for special prayer intentions. The Blessed Mother held Jesus in one arm and both Mother and Child held a large handmade rosary. Sister Maria Elena Banderas Rangel, OP led a live rosary prior to the Mass, with children dressed as angels giving out colored balloons to each participant; each

color representing a different mystery of the rosary. The balloons were released into the air, symbolizing the transmission of prayers that had been given to the Blessed Mother during the day. The church was filled during Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Coelho, Msgr. Michael Howell from St. Andrew by the Sea Parish—who gave the homily, Father Tony

Father Gabriel P. Coelho Pastor to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish

Blount, SOLT from St. Anthony Parish in Robstown, Father José Angel Ortiz from Immaculate Conception Parish in Gregory and Father Juan Fernando Gámez from St. Joseph in Alice. Deacon Jesse Hinojosa from Corpus Christi Cathedral also assisted in the Mass. During the Mass, the musical group Fuerza Christiani played traditional Spanish songs beloved by members of the congregation.

Members of other parishes participated in the planning and came to pray in the Rosary Fest. Father Henry Artunduaga, from Nuestra Señora de san Juan de Los Lagos, accompanied a group of parishioners and conducted the rosary and other devotions. Father Paul Peter Antony from Our Lady of Consolation came from Vattmann to offer prayers with one of his parishioners. “I saw a deacon, a doctor and many others who made time to visit and pray during the day,” Father Coelho said. “We prayed for all parishes in our diocese, vocations, conversion of sinners, peace, harmony, unity and many other needs and intentions. By celebrating the Fest and praying rosaries we also tried to send out a message of the importance of prayer and conversion which is the outcome of any preaching,” Father Coelho said.

To see more photos of this event

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NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 33

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‘A dwelling among the flock’ The homes of the bishops of Corpus Christi over the years

PART 2 Msgr. Michael Howell

W Contributor

Bishop Paul Nussbaum and two Passionist priests believed to be Father Theo Noonan, Father Mark Moeslin at the Kenedy cottage on Broadway and Lipan. Archived photo

hen the Vicariate of Brownsville was raised to the status of a diocese in March 1912, the wooden church of St. Patrick’s built by Bishop Dominic Manucy in the early 1880s on the southwest corner of the intersection of N. Carancahua and Antelope Streets in Corpus Christi was designated the first cathedral of the newly named Diocese of Corpus Christi.

36 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE

Pope Pius X named the Passionist Father Paul Nussbaum, CP, as the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Corpus Christi. Bishop Nussbaum arrived in Corpus Christi on June 8, 1913. He initially accepted the hospitality of Msgr. Claude Jaillet in the residence and offices built by the pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in 1901. The residence had served as home for Bishop Peter Verdaguer when he visited Corpus Christi; Bishop Verdaguer had chosen to reside primarily in Laredo during his administration as shepherd for south Texas. The structure built by Msgr. Jaillet was a two-story wooden building with both residence and office space for Bishop Verdaguer as well as the clergy of St. Patrick’s. After only a few weeks, Bishop Nussbaum sought more space and privacy for himself and the Passionist priests who had accompanied him to this new missionary field. His request was heard by John G. Kenedy, son of Capt. Mifflin Kenedy, who offered his Corpus Christi cottage that sat on the northwest corner of N. Upper Broadway and Lipan Streets (where the Corpus Christi Cathedral presently sits). Bishop Nussbaum, along with some of his clergy, took up residence in this house on July 3, 1913. It was meant to be a temporary residence until the bishop could purchase or build a new structure to serve as his home and chancery offices. Initially the bishop considered buying an already

existing residence near the cathedral and refitting it to serve for living and office space for himself and the Catholic clergy of the city of Corpus Christi. A letter of the bishop to Mrs. E. C. Timon in December 1914 indicates that she had offered her home—located at 720 Antelope on the northeast corner of the intersection of N. Tancahua and Antelope Streets—for sale. After his tour of the house, the bishop concluded that while its location was most suitable for himself and right across the street from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the remodeling and additions necessary to accommodate his chancery departments would be too expensive. He lamented that the home was “not adapted to the requirements of a priest’s home, and still less to the needs of a bishop’s residence.” The bishop suggested that—if he could not raise sufficient funds to either purchase or build an adequate facility—he would have to “adopt the other alternative, to transfer my residence to Laredo, where there is a residence which at a comparatively small cost could be made serviceable…” Apparently, the people of the area as well as outside sources were generous enough that the bishop eventually was able to make plans for building a new residence. Meanwhile, in a letter to Kenedy in May 1915, he expressed his regrets that he had not vacated the Kenedy house by the spring of 1915 as originally planned, and he saw no prospects of being in his new residence until after the summer. Not only did Kenedy

804 N. Tancahua built by Bishop Nussbaum and existing until 1971. Archived photo

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 37

Bishop Ledvina lives in the N. Tancahua house from 1921-1949. Archived photo

allow the bishop and his staff to remain, but he also made a generous contribution for the building of the new residence. Bishop Nussbaum—in a thank you letter of July 13, 1915—acknowledged the gift and also expressed his gratitude to Kenedy and his father for all that they had done for the church in south Texas. To accommodate the new residence, the two-story wooden house built by Msgr. Jaillet in 1901 was moved across the street to the campus of the old Incarnate Word Academy behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral where it served as a meeting space known Charity Hall and also as part of the school facilities. It remained at that location into the 1940s when the building of a new Cathedral with its basement hall filled the same needs. The church that sat beside Msgr. Jaillet’s residence in its original location on N. Tancahua was also moved to make room for the bishop’s new home. Built in 1903 by Father Juan Coma, it had been initially called Blessed Sacrament Church, then Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was ultimately modified and moved multiple times before becoming Holy Cross Church where it remains to this day. It was in the space occupied by Blessed Sacrament Church and the 1901 rectory built by Msgr. Jaillet, that the new episcopal residence was built to

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serve both as living and office space for the Cathedral clergy as well as the bishop and his Chancery departments. This residence, with address listed as 804 N. Tancahua, contained 22 rooms and was built at a cost of $10,694. The building consisted of two complete wings—the east wing facing N. Tancahua Street served the needs of the bishop and his diocesan departments while the west wing served as quarters and offices for the Cathedral clergy. A common dining hall joined the two wings. Sister Mary Xavier IWBS, who later served as diocesan archivist, noted that there was even a small barbershop in the rectory area, and that seminarians studying for the priesthood used to stay in the attic during the summer and while on retreat. After the arrival of Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina in 1921, the large structure continued to serve as the Chancery and the bishop’s residence until it was replaced in 1949 by the current Chancery built by Bishop Ledvina behind the present Corpus Christi Cathedral. The aging but solid structure continued to house diocesan offices, including the Diocesan Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, until it was badly damaged by Hurricane Celia in August 1970. The damaged structure was in the process of being demolished by contractor O. M. Green of Mathis for $500 and rights to salvage when a fire broke out in the old house in July 1971. The old house that had survived the hurricanes of 1916 and 1919 as well as hurricanes Carla, Beulah and Celia had finally completed its service to the Diocese of Corpus Christi. (Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series on the residences of the bishops in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.)

VIEWPOINTS

Misreading Murray, yet again

By George Weigel

Contributor

rom his present location in the communion of saints, Father John Courtney Murray, SJ, who died in 1967, is probably indifferent to the various ways his work on Catholicism and American democracy is misconstrued in the 21st century. But those who think that Murray still has something to teach Catholics about the American experiment in ordered liberty must regret that Murray’s thinking continues to be misrepresented in some Catholic quarters and misapplied in others. The most recent example of the latter came in the Sept. 23 issue of America, in an article titled “Murray’s Mistake” by my friend Michael Baxter. As I understand Dr. Baxter’s argument, it goes something like this: 1) Murray urged American Catholics to more active involvement in public life because Catholics still “got” the ensemble of truths on which American democracy rested, while the old Protestant mainline and secular America had long since abandoned that foundational moral consensus; 2) Catholics did what Murray suggested; and 3) Catholic unity in the United States has subsequently fractured because of political differences. I’m not buying. I don’t doubt that ecclesial unity in the Church in America has fractured in ways that no one could anticipate when Vatican II convened in 1962. But to blame that current disarray on differences of political opinion (and on Murray) would seem to ignore

the obvious historical fact that Catholics were bitterly divided over political questions in the past, but without the fractures in ecclesial unity that both Baxter and I regret today. Catholics fought on both sides of the Civil War; but unlike other Christian communities, the Catholic Church didn’t split into northern and southern branches. There were Catholic America Firsters and Catholic interventionists before World War II; but there were no serious fractures in ecclesial unity. There were Catholic disagreements about what racial justice required in the 1950s; aside from the excommunication of a few recalcitrant segregationists, there was no fracture of ecclesial unity. What may appear to be politically-induced fractures in the unity of the Church in the United States today are the result of something else; too many Catholics in the United States, including prominent public figures, have ceased to believe and profess “all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and professes to be revealed by God,” which is what converts confess when they enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. That dissonance is why

➤ ...too many Catholics in the United States, including prominent public figures, have ceased to believe and profess “all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and professes to be revealed by God,” which is what converts confess when they enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 39

unity within the church in the United States is so fragile these days. Vatican II never, ever taught that Catholic faith is a do-it-yourself thing. Yet too many Catholics in America learned from the Council—or its alleged “spirit”—that Catholicism is something other than an embrace of Christ, who is truth, and the truths authoritatively taught by Christ’s church; truths that are then embodied in a Gospel-centered way of life that touches family, culture, society and politics. The fractures in the church that Michael Baxter rightly deplores have far less to do with Obamacare or Syria policy than they do with the fact that a not-insignificant number of U.S. Catholics deny to be true what the Gospel and the church authoritatively teach to be true. My friend Baxter is certainly right that it is much harder to live an integrally Catholic public life in the United States today than it was 50-some years ago, when Murray wrote “We Hold These Truths: Catholic Reflections on the American Proposition.” And it may be that, in the decades ahead, Catholics of integrity will go into active opposition to American culture and society in unprecedented ways. That possibility cannot be excluded. But the unity of the church in the U.S. will not be recomposed by a retreat into micro-communities that, as Baxter suggests, reject the modern nation-state; John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden and their successors in future generations are not going to follow the late Dorothy Day and Michael Baxter into the desert. And in any case, fractured unity can only be recomposed by recommitment to “all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and professes to be revealed by God.” (George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. The Denver Catholic Register, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Denver, distributes his column.)

40 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

Practicing due diligence money to charitable fo Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D.

Contributor

rivate foundations and non-profit groups are frequently involved in advocating for particular causes, ranging from cancer research to protecting the environment. Some of these foundations rely almost exclusively on charitable donations to carry out their promotional work. Potential donors seeking to support these causes face the challenge of exercising “due diligence,” so that their funds are properly utilized and not misdirected or otherwise targeted by the organization to support immoral projects. An example of the need for this due diligence can be seen in the case of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which promotes scientific research to cure Type 1 diabetes. The ethical concern arises because this organization has gone on record in support of a highly unethical form of research, namely human embryonic stem cell research. Similarly, we may need to consider whether it is appropriate to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Race for a Cure, which seeks to promote breast cancer research and awareness. One of the rarely discussed problems with the Komen Foundation’s activities is that some of the money they raise may be used to promote morally

objectionable activities that run counter to their mission of fighting breast cancer. For example, some of Komen’s funds are made available to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the U.S., even though abortion of a woman’s first pregnancy has been shown to correlate with an elevated incidence of breast cancer. More than 28 different studies over a period of 45 years have shown abortion to be a significant risk factor for breast cancer. In fiscal 2009, Komen affiliates contributed some $730,000 to programs sponsored by Planned Parenthood, and in fiscal year 2010 they contributed about $569,000. In January 2012, the Susan G. Komen Foundation courageously decided that it would discontinue its financial support of Planned Parenthood. In the media firestorm that ensued, Komen experienced the backlash reserved for those who dare to cross the pro-abortion lobby.

e when donating oundations After little more than 24 hours, the Komen Foundation withered under the pressure, reversed itself, and assured the public it would continue to make funds available to Planned Parenthood. This backsliding solidified the beliefs of many donors that the Komen Foundation could not be trusted with their funds. Komen’s support for the abortion provider may stem from the fact that Komen’s founder, Nancy Brinker, is a long-time promoter of Planned Parenthood, having served as an advisory board member for the organization’s Texas affiliate. John Hammarley, a spokesman for Komen, indicated that about 20 of Komen’s 122 affiliates are responsible for the money that goes to Planned Parenthood and has claimed that those funds are used only for breast cancer treatment, education or screening programs that happen to be affiliated with the abortion group. Planned Parenthood, however, is not licensed to provide screening beyond Level 1 breast examinations—the same exam that can be done by a woman in her shower, or in any clinic or physician’s office. They do not even perform mammograms. Even if they did provide serious breast cancer screening, it would still remain a

financial fact of life that an organization that receives money for Project A can divert other funds in its budget to Project B. Every dime that Komen provides to Planned Parenthood allows a different dime to be freed up for overhead, supplies, equipment and personnel to perform abortions. When foundations have a generally sound list of activities, but promote an intrinsically immoral activity as well

Our fundraising initiatives need to be carefully directed towards foundations and organizations without such connections to intrinsically immoral actions. Donors who are concerned about the use of funds by Komen may wish to consider alternative groups such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation, an organization that funds mammograms, or the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, which offers information on avoidable risks including abortion. The Iacocca Family Foundation, to consider another example, promotes cutting-edge diabetes research without supporting human embryonic stem cell research. Some smaller, local organizations may also have suitable profiles for us to be able to support their work unreservedly. A determined decision to redirect our fundraising energies can also have a powerful practical impact, serving to evangelize and provide witness, as organizations become aware of the reasons why such efforts are being channeled away from them.

➤ Our fundraising initiatives need

to be carefully directed towards foundations and organizations without such connections to intrinsically immoral actions.

abortion, human embryonic stem cell research, contraception, etc., one must consider the serious matter of the fungibility of donated funds. If we engage in fundraising for such organizations, even if they assure us that specified funds would only be used for activities with an ethical profile, it can end up being little more than a shell game. In this sense, there is a real danger that our fundraising activities will not only engender scandal, but may even contribute to the perpetuation of grave evils like abortion and human embryonic stem cell research.

(Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org.)

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 41

Christmas Giving “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” – Mother Teresa

Christmas shop and help the homeless at the same time! Make a donation to the Mother Teresa Shelter in honor of loved ones and we will send them a Beautiful Christmas Card. Your gift of $10 or more per Christmas card will help provide day shelter for the homeless in Corpus Christi, Texas. A Christmas card acknowledging your gift (without specic amounts listed) will be mailed to each of your honorees. A beautiful Christmas tree ornament will also be included for gifts of $25 or more per card.

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Purgatory is no By Father Rodolfo Vasquez

Contributor

he Catholic Church’s annual celebration of All Souls Day affords us the opportunity

to meditate upon the doctrine of purgatory, a doctrine that often confuses and befuddles Catholics who consider this teaching of the Church “outdated” or

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“mythological.” Perhaps, the root

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cause might be our attempt to

_______________________________________________________ City/State/Zip Please use copies of this form for additional names _______________________________________________________ Your Name _______________________________________________________ Phone/email _______________________________________________________ Address City/State/Zip Enclosed: ❏ Check (payable to Mother Teresa Shelter) ❏ VISA/MC/DSCV ❏ AMEX _______________________________________________________ Card Holder’s Name Card Holder’s Signature _______________________________________________________ Card # Exp. Date Mail form and payment to: Mail form and payment to: Mother Teresa Shelter, Inc. Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, Inc. 513 Sam Rankin 1322 Comanche Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Contact:(361) Sister Rose Phone: 442-2224 Phone: (361) 883-7372 Fax: (361) 442-2607 Fax: (361) 881-1373 Email: shoelscher@diocesecc.org Email: mteresashelter@diocesecc.org

42 SOUTH

TE X A S C ATHOLIC | NOV EM BER 2013

reconcile two attributes of God, both mercy and justice. The word “purgatory” is taken from the root Latin word “purgare” which means to “purge” or to “cleanse.” This cleansing is vividly described by the Italian poet Dante in the Purgatorio as a “mountain” of suffering which is a frightening place where souls endure the torments of “purging fires.” Such a description reminds us of the fires of hell, which is why we tend to shy away from the reality of purgatory. We are left then with some important questions. How do we reconcile this place of torment with the tender compassionate mercy of God? How do we understand the concept of purgatory in light of our loved ones whom God has called to Himself? In his general Wednesday audience of Jan. 12, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the life of St. Catherine of Genoa in which he reminded us that her revelations of purgatory

OUR FAITH

ot ‘a place’ but a journey revealed to her that these “fires” are not exterior torments but an “inner fire” that forges the soul into a communion with God. Consider the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke’s Gospel who walking with the Lord cannot recognize him until the breaking of the bread and exclaim, “Were not our hearts burning within us?” (Lk 24:32) This internal desire for God is an aching; a painful longing that is fueled by love. Therefore, purgatory is best considered not “a place” but a journey, or a process of purifying love. Here the damage caused by misdirected love now faces the radiance of God’s eternal love that by necessity is a “burning within.” The soul is making its way through a purgation of love not a torment of horror. Why is it necessary for some souls to journey through purgatory? Sin has left residue on the soul and, and as St. Catherine of Genoa said, it “presents itself to God still bound to the desires and sufferings that derive from sin and this makes it impossible to enjoy the beatific vision of God.” In fact when we sin we commit an act of injustice and violate our relationship with God. God’s mercy absolves us of the guilt of sin through the sacrament of reconciliation, but nonetheless the infraction committed requires restoration. Restorative justice means that one must make right what one has wronged. A thief can be forgiven of a theft but in order for justice to be restored the thief must restore that which was stolen. So too, the soul that commits sins, penance is the restoration of justice on earth, purgatory is the restoration

justice after death. The repentant sinner, is the beneficiary of God’s mercy, however “still imperfectly purified” (CCC 1030), his wounded heart must be forged to true love through “the action of divine light on the soul, a light that purifies and raises them to the splendor of the shinning radiance of God.” (St. Catherine of Genoa) Love is what purges and cleanses their soul. Love that expresses painful sorrow for sin becomes love that is open to eternal bliss. Purgatory then can be seen as a state of preparation for heaven. While in this preparatory process the “poor” soul is greatly assisted by the Church Militant—or the Church on earth. We who are in the pilgrimage of life on earth can perform acts of love that benefit the souls in purgatory through works of penance, charity and prayer, we assist them along their journey. It is therefore imperative for us as Catholics to pray with devotion for those who have died. It is a great act of charity to have a Mass intention said for your deceased loved one. It is important that we do not fail to do our part to help them along their journey. None of us can assume that they are already in heaven so for their sake we must make it our commitment to always pray and do penance for them. As we celebrate the day in which we commemorate those who have gone before us and await the eternal bliss of heaven, let us on this All Souls Day pray, fast and do penance for our beloved family and friends.

➤ God’s mercy absolves us of the guilt of sin through the sacrament of reconciliation, but nonetheless the infraction committed requires restoration. Restorative justice means that one must make right what one has wronged.

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 43

He suffered death and was By Father J. Patrick Serna

Contributor

n the holy Bible, there is as much attention to the suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus, as there is attention to the moral teachings of Jesus. In this reflection, we will examine the death that Jesus suffered, and His burial.

The prophet Isaiah predicted a lifetime of suffering and death which Jesus would endure out of love for us when he wrote, “It was our infirmities that He bore, our sufferings that He endured... He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by His wounds we were healed.” (Is 53:4-5) St. Bonaventure even goes so far as to say, “The suffering and death of There are many heresies that chaldeath, towards an expression that chamJesus began when He was eight days lenge or deny the divinity of Jesus, and pions the notion that Jesus ENDURED old, when He bled from circumcision.” there are a few heresies that deny the a PROLONGED suffering and PROJesus suffered death in the course of His humanity of Jesus. Docetism is one of LONGED death. entire earthly life for us, so He knows the heresies that denies the what we suffer emotionally, humanity of Jesus. The name spiritually and physically. “docetism” comes from the If you are suffering, know Greek word “dokeo,” which that Jesus experienced the means “to appear” or “to same thing, really and truly, I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven seem.” Docetism adheres to in history and in the flesh. and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one the false belief that Jesus only At my current assignLord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the “appeared” to have a human ment as pastor, there are Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true body, since according to them an average of one to three God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with matter is evil and is incompatdeaths and funerals per the Father; through Him all things were made. For us men ible with the nature of God. week, and during my year and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the The historical fact of Jesus’ as a hospital chaplain, there Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became suffering and death guaranwere one to seven deaths man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, tees us that Jesus is a divine per work day/night. In the He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the person with human nature, and course of ministering to third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into the belief of docetists is only a many who have died and heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will thing of fiction. their surviving loved ones, a come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His The former English transsignificant phenomenon frekingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the lation of the Nicene Creed quently takes place. Many Lord the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the stated, “He suffered, died, and times a family member has Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, was buried.” The improved expressed something like who has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one holy, translation reads, “He suffered this, after the death of a Catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the death, and was buried.” The loved one; “Father, I am not forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of nuances in the new wording afraid to die anymore. My the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. moves away from a “moment” loved one has crossed over, of suffering or “moment” of and I want to be with him.

Nicene Creed

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s buried

Death isn’t a great unknown anymore, my loved one suffered death and I am no longer afraid to follow.” In the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary we reflect on the death that Jesus suffered. During the agony in the garden, Jesus suffered terribly from fear, “Father, if it is your will, take this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” (Lk 22:42) Pilate ordered Jesus to be scourged (Jn 19:1), and the instruments were customarily equipped with lead objects and sharp bone in order to rip out flesh from the back, inflicting internal damage to bones and meat in the process. Jesus then suffered the humiliation, as well as physical agony, of the crown of thorns (Jn 19:2) wrapped around his head. The thorns were not dainty, and were strong as household nails, which according to the shroud of Turin embedded deeply into his skull. When meditating on Jesus carrying the cross, remember that the flesh of Jesus’ back was torn off, from the scourging at the pillar. The cross did not rest on Jesus’ skin, it rested on the bloody flesh of Jesus’ shoulders. The soldiers were not being kind to Jesus when they urged Simon the Cyrenean to help Jesus with the cross, they wanted to have more fun by watching Jesus die on the cross,

instead of while carrying the cross. The gospel tells us, “Finally, when they had finished making a fool of him, they stripped him of the cloak... and led him off to crucifixion.” (Mt 27:31) Finally, when Jesus was crucified, He had to suffer the humiliation of an inscription above His head, intended for mockery and ridicule. Some scholars believe that Jesus was forced to suffer the humiliation of total nakedness on the cross. In the Apostle’s Creed, which is shorter and older than the Nicene Creed, we profess that after death, Jesus descended to hell. In his “Commentary on the Apostle’s Creed,” St. Thomas Aquinas said, “Christ had triumphed over the devil, that His victory might be complete, it was His will to deprive the devil of his throne and imprison him in his own house, which is hell. For this reason He descended into hell, deprived the devil of his own, bound him, and carried off his spoils.” St. Paul talks about the victory of Jesus over fallen angels, after His death and burial. “Thus did God disarm the principalities and powers. He made a public show of them and, leading them off captive, triumphed in the person of Christ.” (Col 2:15) Jesus knew that we all have an innate fear of death, and He knew that for those who fall in love with Him, fear of death would be lessened or eliminated. When the Christian is able to understand the full effects of the death that Jesus suffered, with the heart as much as with the mind, it is then that the believer can say with boldness and courage the same

➤ When the Christian is able to understand the full effects of the death that Jesus suffered, with the heart as much as with the mind, it is then that the believer can say with boldness and courage the same words as St. Paul, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55) words as St. Paul, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55) Jesus’ historical suffering and death reminds us of the extreme love that Jesus has for us, and in the face of death this reminder gives us hope against fear.

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 45

Inside the ‘ME’ vortex By Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT

Contributor

n 2012, a woman named Nadine Schweigert married herself in a commitment ceremony where she exchanged rings with her “inner groom.” There was an actual gathering of family and friends who were encouraged to “blow kisses to the world.” One can imagine the theme song of her wedding with a slight variation: “Nobody Loves Me Like I Do.” Schweigert had been through a painful divorce in which her two children opted to live with her ex-husband. She drank, smoked and was 50 pounds overweight, according to her own testimony. At the suggestion of a friend, she married herself, and now feels “happy, joyous, empowered.” She says she has come a long way from where she was. She now takes herself on dates, in order “to invest in this relationship.” We might ask what is going on here. Is it pure narcissism? Or is something else at work? The surprising thing is that with a bit of honest examination, we might have to admit that the only difference between Schweigert and ourselves is that we haven’t thrown ourselves a wedding party. How many of us are married to our own opinions, our own thoughts, our own routines, our own preferences, likes, dislikes and ways of doing things?

She simply made visible what many of us live. At the same time that Schweigert arrived at this solution to her unhappiness, more and more young people come to a different kind of resolution: suicide. Almost nothing is more distressing than hearing that another young person has taken their life. It always elicits shock and dismay. How many

questions we must answer. Back in the 13th century, St. Thomas Aquinas stated categorically that man couldn’t live without joy. He cannot live without joy! St. Thomas noted that when a person is deprived of true spiritual joys he would necessarily become addicted to carnal pleasures. We are living in a society and culture that does not know what true joy is. And we are dying in myriad ways because of it. Addictions of one kind or another have to be the most prevalent affliction of the modern age. And it is a spiritual problem. Addictions lead to obsession, compulsion, depression, sadness, and enslavement. These temporary joys don’t touch the soul, but actually harm it, bind it, strangle it. Perhaps the false bravado of many youth today is armor against some of the most profound insecurity the young have ever had to experience. Maybe it’s harder than we think for a young person to believe that he is unconditionally

➤ We are living in a society and culture that does not know what true joy is. And we are dying in myriad ways because of it. times do family and friends say they never saw it coming? The son or daughter, sister, brother, friend, had such a promising life ahead of them, and so many people who loved them. Why is the incidence of young suicides increasing? Why do so few young people really seem to have the joy of their youth anymore? These are

46 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

wanted and loved; that he is a source of deep, spiritual joy when contraception and abortion are so freely used, so prevalent even in their own families; when the self-interest of parents and the adults around him eclipses all else. Perhaps he cannot understand how he can be genuinely connected to anything when there seem to be no absolute relationships in his life, nothing he can depend on to be there, no sacrificial love that will reveal him to himself from the outside. One wonders what the psychological effect must be as he watches “adults” not only sterilize themselves but all creation for their own selfish purposes. Relationally there are fewer and fewer set constellations. The universe of relationships in many lives changes before one can even map the constellations. That is the experience of young people today. No center of gravity. No orderly solar system; just free-flying, unpredictable bits of mass crashing into other bits of mass, knocking orbits and axes off. It is not difficult to see that the direction of our culture as it is, leads nowhere. Its movement does not solidify into anything stable. It spins into self-destruction. It took mankind centuries to understand the earth was not the center of the universe and that the sun did not revolve around us but rather we around the sun. Scientists tell us that life on earth flourishes because of how we orbit the sun. If the orbit were a fraction off, the planet would easily become incapable of sustaining life. Just as the natural world has a center of gravity, so too our supernatural lives need a center of gravity. If we

acknowledge Jesus as our center of gravity and we understand Him as the center around whom we both rotate and revolve, we begin to coalesce, to be defined; we become integrated. We come to understand who we are and how we are related to everyone and everything else. Our world makes sense and is guided by very real rules of existence. If we are knocked out of that orbit, if our center is off, or non-existent, we have grave trouble. We spin off by ourselves, into fragments of what we should be

with God is not only possible, it’s a deep need. It’s absolutely real, and in fact, the thing that centers us and holds us together. Schweigert said she was waiting for someone to come along and make her happy. She must have decided that no one was coming and that she had to do that for herself. One wishes they could warn her that ultimately this will not work either. We just aren’t fashioned that way. An exclusive relationship with oneself has no place to go. At the center of it is a great, yawning loneliness, like a black hole. “It is not good for man to be alone.” When I hear of another suicidal youth I want to take hold of them and reset them into the orbit of Christ’s love. I want to pull them out of themselves and throw them quickly into His embrace so that they can become more than formless matter drifting about, so that they can coalesce into the magnificent being they are created to be, so that they can know true joy. There is a struggle for the spirit of man today. He has been knocked out of orbit and now has to decide what his orbit will be. Sports? Food? Wealth? Prestige? Fame? Sex? Alcohol? Drugs? Gambling? Modernism? Materialism? Ecology? Politics? Science? Other manifestations of self? The drama of our age is to see whether man will realign himself. Will he return to his true center, and come back to an ordered rotation around the true Sun; the Son of God Who is Light, Love and the pure Joy that is Life-giving? Or, will he blindly spin off into massive self-destruction? It is a choice that everyone must make.

➤ Pope Benedict XVI said that real joy comes from friendship with God. Jesus draws us to Himself and calls us friends. How many saints attest to the fact that friendship with God is not only possible, it’s a deep need. It’s absolutely real, and in fact, the thing that centers us and holds us together.

and out of relationship to all the other bodies orbiting the true center. There is in this, also, an answer to our existential need for joy. Pope Benedict XVI said that real joy comes from friendship with God. Jesus draws us to Himself and calls us friends. How many saints attest to the fact that friendship

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 47

Prayer based on very few words By Sister Kathleen McDonagh, IWBS

Contributor

etween the processes of “saying our prayers” using many words, and of prayer without words, there are other possibilities. One of these is the possibility of choosing something in between—one word or a phrase of a very few words which speak deeply to us and which are a basis for our prayer. This word or very brief phrase is repeated over and over, slowly and thoughtfully. Such a choice, the fourteenth century author of the well-known work The Cloud of Unknowing, suggests is sufficient. He says: “Take a little word of one syllable, the shorter the better. Maybe words like “God” or “Love”— the shorter the better. Choose any word that you like, a word of one syllable that you like best. Fix this word in your heart so that, whatever happens, it will not go away. This word is your protection whether you are at peace or disturbed.” However, the most frequent problem in prayer is not that God is not present to us but that we are not present to Him. If we are distracted, if our mind is wandering all over the place, we cannot claim to be praying. We can help overcome this by finding a place, which seems to call us to prayer—a quiet place, perhaps with a statue or holy picture or work of religious art on which we can focus. Outstanding among such places would be a church or chapel, which contains not only items of religious art,

but also the real presence of Jesus in a tabernacle. In addition to choosing our prayer space carefully, it can be very important to recall prayer formulae that are familiar and attractive to us and which we are happy to repeat over and over again. Such formulae could be a phrase from a hymn or from a prayer book, a spiritual book, a vocal prayer that means much to us. And of course, most important, is the awareness that the Jesus we are com-

to remain focused on that love by focusing on a few words, a phrase, a vocal prayer? We can only answer, “Yes” if we have made the effort to pray in this way and discovered that such a process is indeed helpful to us. Verbal prayer—wordless prayer—in between, prayer with few or relatively few words—how do we know when we are being called from one form of prayer to another? We know when the form of prayer, which we have been using for some time, is no longer helpful to us. Then when we try to use another form of prayer, that turns out to be difficult for us also. We may be tempted to give up on prayer and say something like, “Oh, well, this is a waste of time. I will concentrate on doing good works.” And yet, when we consider our human relations, if we work alongside another human being, sharing in good works but never sharing who we are to each other, we can hardly speak of this relationship as being one of love or friendship. But we do want our prayer life to be one of love with Jesus. Let us try to communicate with Him as seems best for any particular period in our life, and be willing to continue to reach out to Him even when that seems difficult.

➤ However, the most frequent problem in prayer is not that God is not present to us but that we are not present to Him. municating with in our prayer is a Jesus Who loves us. We have only to recall His experiences in this life, many of them demanding—demanding even unto death—and these for our salvation, to bring us to a new awareness of His love for us. Is our love for Him central to all that we are, all that we have, all that is important to us? And is it helpful to us

48 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

November Liturgical Calendar Nov. 1 Fri All Saints | white | Solemnity [Holy day of Obligation] Rv 7:2-4, 9-14/1 Jn 3:1-3/Mt 5:1-12a (667) Pss Prop Nov. 2 Sat The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed | white/violet/ black (All Souls’ Day) Wis 3:1-9/Rom 5:5-11 or 6:3-9/Jn 6:37-40 (668), or any readings from no. 668 or from the Lectionary for Ritual Masses (vol. IV), the Masses for the Dead, nos. 1011-1016 | Pss Prop Nov. 3 SUN THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | green | Wis 11:22— 12:2/2 Thes 1:11—2:2/Lk 19:1-10 (153) Pss III

Nov. 9 Sat The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica | white | Feast | Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12/1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17/Jn 2:13-22 (671) Pss Prop

19:6-9/Lk 18:1-8 (496)

(502)

Nov. 10 SUN THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | green | 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14/2 Thes 2:16—3:5/Lk 20:27-38 or 20:27, 34-38 (156) Pss IV

Nov. 17 SUN THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | green | Mal 3:1920a/2 Thes 3:7-12/Lk 21:5-19 (159) Pss I Nov. 18 Mon Weekday | green/white/ white |[The Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles; Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin] 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41 43, 54-57, 62-63/Lk 18:35-43 (497), or, for the Memorial of the Dedication, Acts 28:11-16, 30-31*/Mt 14:22-33* (679)

Nov. 24 SUN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE | white | Solemnity | 2 Sm 5:1-3/Col 1:12-20/Lk 23:35-43 (162) Pss Prop

Nov. 4 Mon Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop | white | Memorial | Rom 11:2936/Lk 14:12-14 (485)

Nov. 13 Wed Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin | white | Memorial | Wis 6:1-11/Lk 17:11-19 (493)

Nov. 5 Tue Weekday | green | Rom 12:516b/Lk 14:15-24 (486)

Nov. 14 Thu Weekday green | Wis 7:22b—8:1/Lk 17:20-25 (494)

Nov. 6 Wed Weekday | green | Rom 13:8-10/Lk 14:25-33 (487)

Nov. 15 Fri Weekday | green/white [Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church] Wis 13:1-9/Lk 17:26-37 (495)

Nov. 7 Thu Weekday | green | Rom 14:712/Lk 15:1-10 (488) Nov. 8 Fri Weekday | green | Rom 15:1421/Lk 16:1-8 (489)

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Nov. 16 Sat Weekday | green/white/ white/white [Saint Margaret of Scotland; Saint Gertrude, Virgin; BVM] Wis 18:14-16;

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Nov. 19 Tue Weekday green | 2 Mc 6:18-31/Lk 19:1-10 (498) Nov. 20 Wed Weekday green | 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31/Lk 19:11-28 (499) Nov. 21 Thu The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary white | Memorial | 1 Mc 2:15-29/Lk 19:41-44 (500) Nov. 22 Fri Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr | red | Memorial | 1 Mc 4:36-37, 52-59/Lk 19:45-48 (501) Nov. 23 Sat Weekday | green/red/ white/red/white [Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr; Saint Columban, Abbot; Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Priest and Martyr; BVM] 1 Mc 6:1-13/Lk 20:27-40

Nov. 25 Mon Weekday (Thirty-Fourth or Last Week in Ordinary Time) | green/red [Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr] Dn 1:1-6, 8-20/Lk 21:1-4 (503) Pss II Nov. 26 Tue Weekday green | Dn 2:3145/Lk 21:5-11 (504) 27 Wed Weekday | green | Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28/Lk 21:12-19 (505) Nov. 28 Thu Weekday | green/white [Thanksgiving Day] Dn 6:12-28/Lk 21:2028 (506) or for Thanksgiving Day, any readings from the Lectionary for Ritual Masses (vol. IV), the Mass “In Thanksgiving to God,” nos. 943-947 (see esp. Sir 50:22-24 (943.2)/1 Cor 1:3-9 (944.1)/Lk 17:11-19 (947.6) Nov. 29 Fri Weekday | green | Dn 7:2-14/Lk 21:29-33 (507) Nov. 30 Sat Saint Andrew, Apostle | red | Feast | Rom 10:9-18/Mt 4:18-22 (684) Pss Prop

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NOVEMBER CALENDAR

Year of Faith Distinguished Speaker Series On Friday, Nov. 1 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m.-noon at St. Peter’s, Prince of the Apostles (3901 Violet Road) everyone is invited to two presentations by nationally recognized speaker Brad Wilcox on the topics of fatherhood and marriage. The titles for his presentations are: “Put a Ring On It: Why Marriage Makes All the Difference for Children, Adults, and Communities” and “The Good Father: How Fatherhood Transforms Children and Men for the Better.”

Sacred Music at St. John the Baptist On Nov. 1, All Saints Day, at 6:30 p.m. everyone is invited to a special Mass at St. John the Baptist Church (7522 Everhart) in Corpus Christi to celebrate the Year of Faith with Sacred Music by Mozart Chamber singers and orchetra.

World Wide Marriage Encounter Weekend Begins on Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. with couple check-in between 7-7:30 p.m. at the Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center. Ends on Sunday, Nov. 3 at about 3:30 p.m. with Mass. For more information contact Rolando & Nelda Garza at (361) 851-8306 or via email at ccwwme.register@gmail.com.

St. Theresa Thanksgiving Fest On Nov. 9 from 4-10 p.m. join St. Theresa in Premont for many games, moon jump and children’s car ride, Hayride, Food Booths: Fajita, Turkey Legs, Hamburger, Menudo, Bakery Shop with a variety of homemade cookies & breads. Bingo and silent auction will also take place during the fest. Music by Jerry & the Roughnecks. For more information, contact the parish office at (361) 348-2202.

Pre Cana Seminar On Nov. 9 from 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Corpus Christi Cathedral St.

Joseph’s Hall. For more information contact the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Family Life Office at (361) 693-6638 or register at online at www.diocesecc.org/PreCana.

St. John of the Cross ‘Brisket & Sausage Dinner’ On Nov. 10 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. St. John of the Cross Altar Society is sponsoring a Brisket and Sausage Dinner with all the trimmings, including dessert, at the church hall (200 S. Metz St.) in Orange Grove. Plates are $7 and may be taken home or enjoyed at the hall. Everyone is welcome. Tickets are available at the door.

Incarnate Word Academy 28th Annual GermanFest On Nov. 9 from 6-11 p.m. at Incarnate Word Academy (2920 South Alameda). Dinner, Beer Garden, Spirit Store, Silent & Live Auctions, Valet Parking, Entertainment by the Deadbeats. All proceeds from this event benefit Incarnate Word Academy Athletics. Go to www.iwacc.org/germanfest for more informationc or contact: JoAnn Garcia, Athletic Secretary, (361) 8830857, ext. 111, garciaj@iwacc.org Margot Coco, (361) 774-9778 Courtney Thorud, (949) 388-2501 Gator Garcia, Athletic Director, (361) 8830857, ext. 166, garciar@iwacc.org

Women’s St. Ignatius Silent Retreats Begins on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. and ends on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. at OLCC Retreat Center on 1200 Lantana in Corpus Christi.

Parish Hall located behind St. Patrick’s Church on 3350 S. Alameda in Corpus Christi. Activities include a silent auction, crafts and collectibles booth, and baked goods. For more information, call (361) 855-7391.

Mary of Nazareth On Nov. 19 St Pius X Catholic Church in Corpus Christi and the Knights of Columbus have teamed up to bring “Mary of Nazareth” to the Century 16 Theater. The one night only showing will be at 7 p.m. in three screens simultaneously.

IWA/CCCA Alumni Homecoming Reunion Weekend Begins with registration on Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. at Incarnate Word Academy, on 2920 S. Alameda in Corpus Christi. Register at the Alumni Homecoming Reunion Headquarters located in the Kenedy Center for Math and Science Building (IWA Middle Level, 2nd floor, Room 231). Event ends with Mass celebrated by Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey on Nov. 24 at noon in the convent chapel. Seating is limited. There will be a welcome reception, food booths, live music, the burning of the “A,” an alumni vs. alumni basketball game, a homecoming game, distinguished alumni awards dinner and dance, breakfast, campus tours and a reunion Mass in the convent chapel. For more information and to RSVP online visit: www.iwacc.org/ alumniweekend. Call Amy Canterbury at (361) 883-8229 ext. 104 or at alumni@iwacc.org with any questions.

Men’s Cursillo (English) On Nov. 14-17 at the Corpus Christi Cursillo Center located at 1200 Lantana in Corpus Christi. For more information, call Pre-Cursillo Chairperson Gloria Franco, at (361) 249-2450.

St. Patrick’s Altar & Rosary Society Christmas Bazaar On Nov. 16 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in the

50 SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 2013

To see more calendar events go to:

SouthTexasCatholic.com

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Calendar

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The Office of Youth Ministry would like to thank Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey, all the youth ministers, pastors, DRE’s, parents, volunteers and teens that participated in the 30th anniversary Youth Spectacular in September.

See pictures of the Youth Spectacular and the priest’s messages to our youth groups at www.diocesecc.org/youth.

WWW.DIOCESECC .ORG/YOUTH

NOVEMBER 2013 | SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC 51

Nov. 2013 Issue SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC P.O. Box 2620 Corpus Christi, TX 78403 (361) 882-6191

Calendar of Events: Nov. 1-3: World Wide Marriage Encounter Nov. 2: All Soul’s Mass at 9 a.m. Nov. 9: Day of Prayer from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart in Rockport begins with Mass Nov. 14-17: Women’s Ignatian Silent Retreat Dec. 7: Day of Prayer from 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral in Corpus Christi begins with Mass Dec. 7-8: Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary retreat Dec. 14: Booksigning with “Kent North” otherwise known as Doug Norman, author of “Percival, Guardian of the King”, Noon-3 p.m. Jan. 16-19: Women’s Ignatian Silent Retreat Feb. 20-23: Men’s Ignatian Silent Retreat

The Retreat Center “Under the Blue Dome”

All Souls’ Mass on Nov. 2 at 9 a.m.

for the souls of our deceased Benefactors, 500 Club and SOLT members. 1200 Lantana • Corpus Christi

For more information and to register for the silent retreats, please visit www.deepprayer.org or Email: olccretreatcenter@gmail.com “Come and See” Jesus in our beautiful Perpetual Adoration Chapel! Ongoing Events: Every Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. Miraculous Medal Novena Holy Hour Every First Friday from 7-8 p.m. Charismatic Renewal Mass and Healing Service Every 1st Sunday of the month at 4 p.m. St. Peregrine Healing Mass

(361) 289-9095

Free Coffee at

Café Veritas*

Bookstore: Ext. 309 Retreats: Ext. 321

www.ourladyofcc.org AND “Like” us on facebook @ “Our Lady of Corpus Christi and Cafe Veritas”