The Nueces County Historical Commission unveiled a Texas historical marker at St. John Nepomucene in Robstown on Sunday, Oct. 16, marking its 92-years of service to the area. The marker recalls the beginnings of St. John's as a parish community in the Diocese of Corpus Christi serving the Czech-speaking residents of the area around Robstown. Nueces County Historical Commission chairwoman Anita Eisenhauer served as master of ceremonies for the event that took place after the 11 a.m. Mass. Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal and John Lloyd Bluntzer unveiled the marker as Father Gerald Sheehan blessed it. Bluntzer presented a history of the parish, which got its start in an abandoned Methodist church in 1924, as a mission of St. Boniface in Corpus Christi. It became a parish with a resident pastor 10 years later when newly ordained priest Father George Secina accepted an appointment from Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina. Father Secina, who later became a monsignor, served as pastor for nearly 50 years. The current church was built in 1937, with a rectory going up the following year. A school and convent were added in 1945. The Sisters of Providence from Indiana taught at the school, which included a high school. The high school closed in 1970 after graduating 320 students. The elementary and junior high school also closed in 1986. St. John's Parish continues to serve the Robstown community.
Father Gerald Sheehan, SOLT blesses historical marker in front of St. John Nepomucene in Robstown as County Judge Loyd Neal (at left) looks on. Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic
Coastal Bend Day of Giving is slated for Nov. 15 The Coastal Bend Day of Giving is a 24-hour online opportunity to raise funds for nonprofits at the forefront of assisting the neediest. This year's community day of giving begins at midnight on Nov. 15 with a minimum gift of only $10. Each of the 45 participating nonprofits, including Catholic Charities, the Mother Teresa Shelter, the Ark and Hope house, is eligible for a $16,670 match,
enabling them to raise at least $33,340
on that day. It is an opportunity for friends and neighbors to come together to fight hunger, support children, improve health and reduce homelessness in the Coastal Bend. For the 2016 Day of Giving, 24 matching funders have come together to provide a match fund of $750,000. To give visit coastalbenddayofgiving.org beginning at midnight Nov. 15.
Robstown parishes get new parochial administrators Father Gerald Sheehan, SOLT
Father Mark Whelan, SOLT
Father Gerald Sheehan, SOLT announced at the conclusion of the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Oct. 16, at St. John Nepomecene in Robstown that he had been named parochial administrator at nearby St. Anthony of Padua, also in Robstown. Father Sheehan started his tenure at
St. Anthony’s on Oct. 17. He had served as pastor at St. John’s for three years. The new parochial administrator at St. John’s is Father Mark Whelan, SOLT who was also present at the Mass. On Feb. 10 Pope Francis named Father Whelan a Missionary of Mercy.
November 2016 | South Texas Catholic 21
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St. John Nepomucene gets historical marker