South Texas Catholic On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The aftermath sent Catholics across the world praying for the pope’s recovery, as religious leaders from other faiths denounced the violent act. NC photo from UPI
A change in lifestyles, norms and attitudes were ushered in at the start of 1981 with the election of President Ronald Reagan. Test tube babies challenged bioethicists and end-of-life issues began to be debated. Bishop Drury dedicated the new St. James Church in Bishop on Feb. 26, 1981. The South Texas Catholic landed an exclusive interview with United Farmworker President Cesar Chavez, who said the Church “needs to champion the cause of the poor as Christ did on earth.” March 3, 1981 marked the dedication and blessing of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Flour Bluff. More than 700 people gathered for the occasion, including 40 priests and Bishop Drury. At the time, the parish had 450 registered families. On May 13, 1981, Pope John
Paul II survived an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The aftermath sent Catholics across the world to pray for the Pope’s recovery, as religious leaders from other faiths denounced the violent act. A significant change came to the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 1982, with the planned retirement of Bishop Drury. Before the
United Farm Workers president Cesar Chavez, who granted an interview to the South Texas Catholic, prays silently during Mass at the UFW convention in San Juan, Texas. Archive photo
34 SPECIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | MAY 2016
bishop’s retirement, the diocese started construction of a 48-unit apartment complex for the elderly called Villa Maria and the diocesan communications department unveiled a new studio and made its television debut with its first series, “Encuentros,” a Spanish language program designed to be “a voice of the Catholic Church to the Hispanic people.”